Fox News: What historians know about Abraham Lincoln’s struggle with ‘melancholy’
The University of Cincinnati's Christopher Tuell has extensively studied the mental health struggles of President Abraham Lincoln and recently was featured in a Fox News article analyzing Lincoln's depression.
"Though the history books play a significant role in our perception and understanding of the ‘rail splitter’ from Illinois, it often becomes easy for us to forget that Abraham Lincoln was very human," said Tuell, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience in UC's College of Medicine and clinical director of addiction services at UC Health's Lindner Center of HOPE. "Lincoln led this nation through its worst crisis, while at the same time battling his own internal war of chronic depression."
Tuell said genetics and the loss of several loved ones early in his life may have played a role in what was known at the time as Lincoln's "melancholy."
"Historical records indicate that Lincoln’s mother and father were disposed to melancholy and that one side of the family ‘was thick with mental disease,'" Tuell said. "Bereavement in childhood can be one of the most significant factors in the development of depressive illness in later life."
Featured photo at top of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Photo/Josue Aguazia/Unsplash.
Related Stories
The subtle changes in hearing you should never ignore
July 24, 2026
It’s easy to dismiss changes in hearing as minor. But as The Washington Post recently reported, these symptoms could also signal a medical emergency that many people don’t recognize — known as sudden sensorineural hearing loss, a rapid decline in hearing that occurs suddenly or over a few days.
UC experts say proper produce washing is key defense against Cyclospora
July 24, 2026
Hamilton County Public Health reports confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis, as concerns persist. Cyclospora is a parasite that can cause a stomach illness lasting days — sometimes even weeks. University of Cincinnati medical experts say it is usually linked to contaminated water or food, often fresh produce.
What are the options for male birth control?
July 24, 2026
Despite major advances in contraception during the past several decades, responsibility for pregnancy prevention falls largely on women. As recently reported in Endocrinology Advisor, a new generation of male contraceptive candidates is advancing into early- and mid-stage clinical trials.