DEPRESSION

Depression

Depression

Introduction

Depression is a common disorder primarily characterized by either a low or depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities. Many additional symptoms are often present in the disorder, such as changes in weight, appetite or sleep patterns, fatigue, difficulty with concentration or decision making, moving more slowly than usual or agitation, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and suicidal thinking. To receive a diagnosis of major depression, an individual must have at least five of these symptoms, causing significant impairment in functioning, nearly every day for at least 2 weeks. Biological, cognitive, and interpersonal factors have all been shown to play a significant role in the development and treatment of the disorder.

Depression: A Critically Examination

Gotlib & Hammen (2002) mention in Today's society, in addition to being extremely common, depression also has serious consequences. Up to 25% of individuals may experience depression at some point in their lives, and the disorder leads to significant problems in social and occupational functioning and heightened risk for suicide. It is also recurrent, with individuals who have experienced one episode of depression having a very high risk for future episodes. No one approach to the study of depression can provide a complete picture of the disorder, and different areas of research provide a variety of insights (Gotlib & Hammen, 2002). Common perceptions of depression often emphasize the role of biological factors and medical treatments, and neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, have been found to be different in individuals who are experiencing or are at risk for depression. Genetic factors may also play a role, as those with relatives who have the disorder are also at somewhat higher risk. In addition to these biological factors, however, psychological factors have been found to be very important in understanding the development and treatment of depression, and this entry will focus on current research on the cognitive and interpersonal factors involved in the disorder (Gotlib & Hammen, 2002).

In My Life this topic influenced my personal choices a lot. I have read a lot about the different theories of depression and still curious to know more.

Studies conducted on college students have been an important part of the development of all of the major psychological theories of depression. Many social psychologists and other depression researchers are interested in examining the possible origins of depression; to this end, they examine mild levels of depression experienced by college students and its association with their cognitions or interpersonal relationships. While these mild levels of depression are very different from the full syndrome of clinical depression, small, theoretical studies often provide the first information supporting a new theory of depression, which is later tested on larger and more diverse samples. Understanding how mild symptoms of depression increase over time and in response to a variety of factors provides a good starting point for more intensive clinical research on depression. There are different psychological theories of depression. Following lines discuss these theories.

Cognitive Processes and Depression

One of the most common features of depression is ...