Depression Flashcards
What is it?
unipolar depression is a mood disorder, characterized by varying degrees of sadness, disappointment, loneliness, hopelessness and guilt. It is a relatively common mental health disorder, with an estimated 3.5 million sufferers in the UK.
Features
Depression is twice as common in women
as in men, although men are more likely to commit suicide. Different people have different courses of the disorder, some are only affected once, for others it is chronic.
The peak time for depression is between the ages of 50 and 60, although it typically occurs between 30 and 40. People who suffer any form of depression usually live shorter lives, possibly due to a link between depression and heart disease and other stress-related illnesses.
Biological explanation: monoamine hypothesis
Monoamines are a group of neurotransmitters that includes serotonin, noradrenalin and dopamine. Serotonin regulates neurotransmitters, without regulation erratic brain functioning and thinking occurs. Low levels of serotonin cause low levels of noradrenalin, which is required to show energy, alertness and attention. Essentially the monoamine hypothesis suggests that low levels of dopamine and low levels of noradrenaline result in depressive moods, and low levels of serotonin mean low levels of noradrenaline.It can therefore be low levels of dopamine or noradrenaline that result in depression, or a mixture of both.
Biological Explanation: Strengths
If drugs that counteract the monoamine deficiencies work then it supports the explanation.
The different monoamines link to symptoms differently, and treatment reflects those differences.
Biological Explanation: Weaknesses
There are drugs that effect depression but are not related to monoamine neurotransmitters.
Experiments where monoamines are depleted did not cause the symptoms of depression.
MRI scans show physical differences in the brain in people with depression.
Cognitive Theory: Beck
Three aspects: Cognitive Triad, individual’s cognitive errors and the schemata. Cognitive triad - consists of negative views of self, negative views of world and negative views of he future. Cognitive errors - means an individual gives selective attention to the negative side of a situation, always ignoring the positive. Schemata - Developing positive and negative beliefs about the world. A generalized negative belief pattern may make someone vulnerable.
Cognitive Theory - Ellis
Ellis’ ABC model
A- Activating agent e.g don lad doesn’t say ”sup” to you
B- belief “I must not be worth saying hello to”
C- Consequence, never go out because no-one likes me
Cognitive Theory Eval
Issue of cause and effect- are faulty perceptions a cause or a symptom???
Faulty thoughts could be due to lack of monoamines (Biological factors)
Lewinsohn (2003)
followed a group of teenagers who had developed a negative pattern of thinking. A year later they were far more likely to develop depression than the control group. Suggesting it’s a cause and disregards biological causes.
Treatments: Biological
Antidepressants are used to treat depression, and these drugs usually work by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain, since some of the symptoms of depression come about due to low levels of serotonin (leading to low levels of noradrenaline). This is how the well-
known drug Prozac works. Other drugs used are called SSRI’s. Stands for Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. And then there are MAOI’s . Stands for monoamine Oxidase Inhibiters. These both prolong the effects of the neurotransmitters by stopping them being oxidased and taken back up.
Biological Treatment Strengths
Can be prescribed to boost mood to aid other therapies like CBT.
Newer atypical anti-depressants have less side effects than older drugs.
Theoretical evidence that backs the use of anti-depressants as a treatment.
Biological Treatment Weaknesses
Side effects of fatigue, stress and withdrawal.
Can be addictive.
Government study in 2006. Showed that less than 50% of those who took anti-depressants became symptom free. Showing lack of effect and relapse.
Not seen as a cure but just covers up symptoms.
Cognitive Treatment: CBT
Preferred therapeutic therapy. Aim of CBT is to make the patient aware of their maladaptive thinking and makes them question it. Starts off by setting out aims between the therapist and patient of what they plan to achieve. Bring exaggerated thinking into the client’s conscious awareness and this is done by Socratic questioning - posing a series of curiosity driven questions. Therapist wants to understand the feelings and thoughts provoked by these questions. When they are identified then cognitive areas are then challenged through the Socratic questioning this changes the client’s view on their reasoning and they are cured!
Cognitive Treatment Weaknesses
Key criticism aimed at is the lack of attention to the therapeutic relationship between the client and the therapist. This is the cornerstone of other similar therapies. Makes CBT a rather cold and mechanical therapy.
Time limited often only between 6 and 12 sessions. CBT pays very little attention to early life experiences (deep routed causes of depression).
Cognitive Treatment Strengths
Better than drugs and can be used alongside drug therapy. Can learn to do it themselves and so can do it at home making them independent.
cost effective and cheaper
