1.   According to this theory, clinical depression may occur when acute or prolonged exposure to stress hormones damages mood centers in the brain.

2.   Depression may also occur if the mother, or caregiver, is physically present and emotionally away.

3.   If the depressions occurred some time ago and have not gotten deeper, they are unlikely to do so in the future.

4.   The depressions occurred originally when the parts of the base of the driveway collapsed.

5.   Perhaps the most disturbing aspect was that depression was occurring in virtually all of the region at the same time.