DEPRESSION

Depression

Abstract

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. 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. 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.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION4

PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES OF DEPRESSION5

Attributions, Hopelessness, and Depression5

Beck's Cognitive Theory of Depression6

Cognitive Therapy for Depression6

INTERPERSONAL PROCESSES AND DEPRESSION6

Feedback-Seeking Behaviors and Depression7

Stress Generation and Contagious Depression7

INTERPERSONAL THERAPY FOR DEPRESSION8

IMPLICATIONS8

REFERENCES9

Introduction

Interest in adolescent depression has increased recently (Wicks-Nelson & Israel, 1997), due in part to recent events such as high school shootings and the continual rise in the number of antidepressants prescribed to adolescents in the United States. These are just some of the reasons that clinicians and researchers have been encouraged to focus their efforts at gaining a better understanding of adolescent depression. Depression in adolescents can be quite variable and oftentimes difficult to diagnose (Broadhead, Blazer, George & Tse, 1990). In addition, risk factors and developmental factors can be quite diverse. Untreated depression can lead to many serious consequences, including suicide. (Safren & Heimberg, 1999)

Studies conducted on college students have been an important part of the development of all of the major psychological theories of depression (King et al. 2001). 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 ...