Depression is a chronic, cognitive illness characterized by a prolonged state of melancholy coupled with helplessness and continued pessimism. This illness is initiated by numerous situations including traumatic experience or simply a valuable loss, causing neurological, emotional and physical changes. Depressive patients are unable to continue life as normal due to constant fear of the future mirroring past experiences. Research and investigation are constantly conducted in this area of health and there are many avenues of treatment provided by health professionals today. Biological theory of depression First proposed by Schildkraut in 1965, was one of the main biological theories explaining depression, currently known as the ‘Monoamine Theory’. This theory suggests that depression is caused by dysfunction of the monoamine transmitters in the brain, resulting in a shortage of monoamines including 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and noradrenaline. ‘It is based on the ability of known antidepressants drugs to facilitate monoaminergic transmission, and of drugs such as reserpine to cause depression.’ (Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology) The hypothesis originated from the clinical connection between the drug used to alleviate symptoms and the neurological effects these drugs have on monoamine transmitters in the brain. This pharmacological evidence somewhat supports the monoamine theory but also contains several inconsistencies. The search for more direct evidence, including the investigation of the monoamine metabolism of depressives has become futile as inconsistent results are obtained and causes are not narrowed to depression. Supporting the theory is the amount of 5 HT detected by its metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid, urine and plasma... ... middle of paper ... ...fs in the earlier theory of ‘learned helplessness’. The reformulated model states: ‘…investigators of human helplessness have become increasingly disenchanted with the adequacy of theoretical constructs…so have we. …We do not know whether these considerations apply to infra-humans’ Seligman’s group admit that their decade in of research in the animal model failed to address the fundamental aspect of human depression. Their second model was primarily based on the “attribution theory” which expounds the human connection between ‘causality’ and ‘events’. The reformulated theory concludes that humans suffering melancholy make internal attributions for lamentable events and are pessimistic towards the future. This model now being a ‘hypothetical construct’ can only be used as an introduction into human depression treatment with deeper research needing to be validated.
Depression is considered a mental disorder that can lead an individual to commit suicide, experiment fatal risk that can injure his or her life. Furthermore, an individual feeling depressed lacks motivation to do anything progressive with his or her life. With that said, these individuals sometime gives up interest in activities that were once enjoyable, gets in a phase were he or she loses appetite, begins to overeat, loses concentration on what he or she is trying to complete, and becomes indecisiveness. Moreover, depression is a condition that makes an individual feel miserable, have no motivation to any activity that can influence his or her views, actions, welfare. Furthermore, depressed individuals at times may feel sad, apprehensive, desperate, destitute, useless, awkward, short-tempered, and agitated. In addition, the melancholy of depression is categorized by a greater concentration and length that is attached to severe symptoms. According to Wedding & Corsini (2014) states, “Physical disease, severe and acute stress, and chronic stress area also precipitating factors” (Pp. 240) of an individu...
Since the discovery of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and tricyclic antidepressants in the 1950s and its affect on depressives, Schildkraut first proposed the Monoamine Theory. The theory states that depression is caused by an imbalance of monoamine transmitters (neurotransmitters) in certain areas of the brain, such as noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine (Schildkraut, 1965). This led to the introduction of antidepressant medication in the treatment of depression, known as pharmacotherapy. However, ongoing research suggests that the theory is “inadequate, as it does not provide a complete explanation for the actions of antidepressants, and the pathophysiology of depression itself remains unknown.”(Hirschfeld, 2000) A few of the main reasons for this inadequacy are because it is difficult to measure the level of neurotransmitters in an individual’s brain (P. L. Delgado, 2000) and that evidence is indirect on whether monoamine function is impaired in individuals with depression as the causes of depression appear to be more complex than simply a reduction in levels of monoamine or diminished function in these systems. (P. Delgado & Moreno, 1999)
Antidepressant medications and other treatments can often make an astonishing difference in depressive symptoms within a few weeks. With the right treatment eight out of ten people improve. Before the 20th century, most people experiencing depression went without diagnosis and treatment. Early, crude forms of sedatives were given to people with severe agitation, anxiety or psychotic depression. Like many other aspects of science there has been an evolutionary growth of the quality and range of availability of help for illnesses like this.
Approximately 5% of the United States' population experiences a depressive episode that requires psychopharmacological treatment; in any one year, 10-12 million Americans are affected by depression, with the condition twice as common in females than in males. It has been estimated that 15% of patients hospitalized for depression will commit suicide. These figures are incredible, so finding the root of the problem when it comes to depression is extremely important. "Alterations in serotonin metabolism may be an important factor in the etiology and treatment of depression." (7).
Major Depressive Disorder, which is also referred to as Clinical Depression, is a disorder caused when low serotonin levels, that suppress pain perception and are often found in the pineal gland at the center of the brain, promote low levels of norepinephrine, a monoamine neurotransmitter that controls cognitive ability. This disabling disorder interferes with a person’s daily life as it prevents one from performing normal functions, such as eating, sleeping, interacting, or enjoying once pleasurable activities. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the common symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder are continued feelings of anxiety, worthlessne...
Through my extensive research on depression I have learned a lot of new things. I have learned about the many forms of depression and treatment for depression. I have also learned a little about what is believed to go on chemically in the brain of a clinically depressed person. I was also able to partially determine what sort of role genetics, chemicals and personal influences in the brain. Though I was unable to determine exactly how environmental and personal stress can cause a chemical imbalance in a person, I was even able to speculate about this issue and determine some theories of my own on why and how this may happen.
Depression is a state characterized by a sad mood and loss of interest in one’s usual activities with feelings of hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, psychomotor agitation or retardation and trouble concentrating. (Nolen-Hoeksema, & Rector, 2011, p.297) Depression is a common major health problem that significantly affects the patient as well as generating extensive costs for the society. (Johansson, Nyblom, Carlbring, Cuijpers & Andersson, 2013) Thus, it is really important that this illness can get treated with the right therapies to minimize the negative impacts on the individual’s quality of life. Psychodynamic treatments are developed from Sigmund Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis which formulates t...
Horwitz, Allan. (2010). How an Age of Anxiety Became an Age of Depression. , 88(1), p112-138.
Depression is a serious mental health illness which affects an individuals’ mind, body and mood. It is a chronic and lifelong health condition (NICE, 2006) thought to be caused by a number of biological factors including neurotransmitter disturbances in the brain and an element of genetic vulnerability; these are often in addition to psychosocial factors such as the occurrence of undesirable life events, limited social network options, poor self esteem and the occurrence of any adverse life events during a persons’ lifetime (Bernstein, 2006). Depression can have an impact on a persons’ ability to do many things including working, engaging with others, participating fully in family life or maintaining relationships, and it can also impact on a person...
Depression is a mental illness, which affects millions of Americans each year. Currently there are many prescription drugs, called anti-depressants that have been proven to successfully treat it. The causes of depression are somewhat of a medical enigma, however, it is known that depression is associated with a change in the brains chemistry involving the function of neurotransmitters (Reichert). This chemical change occurs in healthy brain’s, which experience sadness, but ends after the unpleasant stimulus is removed. In people suffering from depression this chemical change does not correspond to any particular stimulus. Symptoms of depression are often incapacitating and include severe and extended sadness, feelings of worthlessness, feelings of emptiness, irritability and anxiety (Reichert, Spake).
Depression is well known for its mental or emotional symptoms. Symptoms for depression include: persistently sad or unhappy mood, loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyable activities, difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions, anxiety, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, and thoughts of death or dying. “People who have endured a major depressive episode describe the experience as a descent into t...
Burton, Neel. "The Anatomy of Melancholy: Can Depression Be Good for You?" Lecture. TEDx. Narodni Dom, Maribor. 12 Nov. 2013. Youtube. 2 Mar. 2012. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.
Depression has no single cause, it can develop for and about different reasons and has many different triggers. It can be an upsetting or stressful life event. For example, a divorce or break up, illness, and job and or school concerns can create a perfect situation for depression to settle itself into a victim’s mind. The psychodynamic approach to therapy aims to bring the unconscious mind into consciousness. In other words, the goal of therapy is to bring these unconscious conflicts into awareness by helping individuals to unravel, experience and understand their true, deep-rooted feelings. Moreover, the psychodynamic view of therapy believes that our unconscious holds onto painful feelings and memories, that are too difficult for the aware
Major depression, in itself, is a debilitating mental disorder that negatively impacts most or all aspects of a sufferer’s life and often times can even lead to suicide. Just to give a few numbers, at least 1 million people worldwide every year take their own life (Hawton and Heeringen 1372-81), half of which are caused by the possession and improper or unsuccessful treatment of major depression (Chehil and Kutcher 30-33). In light of these dark statistics, the benefits and limitations of the main treatments for major depression, antidepressants and psychotherapy, are not only worth investigation, but with thousands of lives on line, vital to the human race. However, to take it further, there is much to be said of human nature in general as it relates to how people respond to the biological treatment of antidepressants as opposed to the cognitive and sociocultural treatment of psychotherapy. Is it possible that the various symptoms of sadness and hopelessness characteristic of major depression can be cured simply by balancing the chemical messengers in charge of happiness and motivation in the brain or must the need to be perceived and understood through therapy be satisfied? Are we, as humans, simply biological machines, or is there something more?
26 November 2011. Marano, Hara. Estroff. “The Season of SADness?” Psychology Today.