MDD Studies Flashcards
Discuss one or more biological etiologies of one disorder / Evaluate one or more studies related to the etiology of one disorder
Caspi et al. (2003), Weissman et al. (2005)
Discuss one or more sociocultural etiologies of one disorder / Evaluate one or more studies related to the etiology of one disorder
Brown and Harris (1978), Parker et al. (2001)
Discuss prevalence rates and disorders
Parker at al (2001), Amenson and Lewinsohn (1981)
Discuss one or more research methods used in the study of etiologies of abnormal psychology
Nolen-Hoeksema (2000), Joiner et al (1999)
Discuss ethical considerations in the study of etiologies of abnormal psychology
Brown and Harris (1978), Nolen-Hoeksema (2000)
Discuss one or more biological treatments of disorders
Riggs et al. (2007), Elkin et al. (1989)
Discuss one or more psychological treatments of disorders
Riggs et al. (2007), Elkin et. al (1989)
Discuss the role of culture in the treatment of disorders
Marian and Neisser (2000), Zhang (2002)
Discuss the effectiveness of one treatment of disorders
Riggs et al. (2007), Key Study: Elkin et. al (1989)
Discuss one or more research methods used in the study of the treatment of disorders
Riggs et al. (2007), Key Study: Elkin et. al (1989)
Discuss ethical considerations in the treatment of abnormal psychology
Riggs et al. (2007), Key Study: Elkin et. al (1989)
Caspi et al. (2003)
Theory: Serotonin Hypothesis
reduction in serotonin–> increased vulnerability to depression. Low levels of serotonin appear to result in OCD-like symptoms including obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. May result in suicidal thoughts which is symptom of MDD
Aim: examined the role of the 5-HTT gene in depression
Method:
1. Longitudinal Study New Zealand 26-year-olds
2. Divided into three groups based on their 5-HTT alleles: 2 short alleles, 1 short and 1 long, 2 long. The mutation of the 5-HTT gene has shorter alleles
3. Asked to fill in a “Stressful life events” questionnaire which asked them about the frequency of 14 different events - including financial, employment, health, and relationship stressors
Conclude: People who had inherited one or more short versions of the allele demonstrated more symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation in response to stressful life events
Weissman et al. (2005)
Aim: Investigate the genetic nature of Major Depressive Disorder
Method:
1. Longitudinal Final Study Grandchildren and their parents and grandparents
2. Grandparents with MDD selected from a clinic and Grandparents without MDD selected from the same community
3. Parents and children interviewed 4x
4. Data collected by clinicians and utilised researcher triangulation
Conclude:
1. High rate of psychiatric disorders in grandchildren with 2 generations of major depression
2. Correlation between parent’s depression and rate of mood disorder in child
Brown and Harris (1978)
“Diathesis-Stress Model” - which is that a genetic predisposition plus environmental stressors may lead to depression
Protective factors: Protect against the development of depression despite stressors –> higher self-esteem
Risk factors
Vulnerability Factors: Increases risk of MDD in combo with particularly stressful life events
Provoking Agents: Major life events leading to stress
Aim: the link between depression and stressful life events within a sample of women
Method:
1. Women in South London were surveyed on daily life and depressive episodes
2. Researchers focused on important biographical details and rated in severity, Particular life events/difficulties faced
Conclude:
1. Working-class women with children 4x more likely to develop depression than middle-class women with children
2. Nearly 90% of women diagnosed with MDD in the previous year experienced an adverse life event
Parker et al. (2001)
Aim: Compare the extent to which MDD Chinese patients in Malaysia and Caucasian patients in Australia identified both cognitive aspects of depression and a range of somatic symptoms as a sign of their depression and the reason that they sought professional help
Method:
1. Malaysian participants of Chinese heritage and Australian participants of Caucasian, Western heritage
2. Fill in a questionnaire based on cognitive and somatic symptoms. Judge extent to which experienced in last week and rank in order
3. Through the assistance of their psychiatrists, it was also noted what the primary symptom was that led to them seeking help.
Conclude: Chinese participants were significantly less likely to identify cognitive or emotional symptoms as part of their problem compared to Australian participants
Amenson and Lewinsohn (1981)
Prevalence Rates: The proportion of a population that has a psychological disorder at a specific point in time
Aim: Prevalence rates of MDD in men vs women
Method:
1. Residents from Oregon
2. Participants were assessed two times for depressive symptoms: a questionnaire using CES-D scale to measure the intensity of MDD symptoms, a 2-hour semi-structured interview
3. Men and Women were divided into high, medium, and low symptom-level groups based on their CES-D scores
Conclude:
1. men and women with equal reported symptom levels were equally likely to be diagnosed as depressed
2. No significant differences between the genders in any of the three groups
Nolen-Hoeksema (2000)
Response Styles Theory: Rumination as a pattern of thinking is responsible for the disorder. The focused attention on the symptoms of one’s distress(rumination) amplifies the disorder.
Aim: The role of rumination on symptoms related to depression
Method:
1. Longitudinal Study participants from San Francisco
2. Participants were interviewed 2 times over a year: 90 min clinical interview with tests incl: Beck Depression Inventory, the Hamilton Rating Scale for depression
3. Given a rumination and coping questionnaire where they would rate how often they have certain thoughts
Conclude:
1. Those with MDD signs in the first interview had a higher score on ruminative scores than those without MDD signs
Joiner et al (1999)
Theory of Dysfunctional Thinking: Part of Beck’s theory of depression. Dysfunctional thinking are the negative schemas triggered by negative life events.
Aim: The effects of dysfunctional thinking patterns on the development of depressive symptoms
Method:
1. Naturalistic study American university students
2. The stressor that the researchers would observe was mid-term examinations
3. Students were assessed two weeks before and two weeks after their mid-term examinations
4. 3 Tests were given to assess students: DAS,
Cognitive Checklist, Beck Depression Inventory
Conclude:
1. The researchers found an increase in the scores on the BDI only in students who had higher scores on the DAS and who had failed an exam
Riggs et al. (2007)
CBT: direct interaction with a therapist who focuses on helping change a client’s unhealthy thought patterns and behaviours. It is based on Becks theory that psychological problems are associated with maladaptive thinking patterns.
IPT: The focus is on developing effective social skills and the client’s current life situation
Drug Therapy: Increase or decrease the levels of neurotransmitters in the synaptic gap.
Aim: Determine the effectiveness of CBT in combination with either a placebo or SSRI
Method:
1. Randomised double-blind study of adolescents who suffered from depression from social service and juvenile justice systems
2. Participants were rated by a physician who found that 67% of patients in the CBT + placebo and 76% in CBT + SSRI were judged as “very much improved” or “much improved” after being treated for four months
Elkin et. al (1989)
CBT: direct interaction with a therapist who focuses on helping change a client’s unhealthy thought patterns and behaviours. It is based on Becks theory that psychological problems are associated with maladaptive thinking patterns.
IPT: The focus is on developing effective social skills and the client’s current life situation
Drug Therapy: Increase or decrease the levels of neurotransmitters in the synaptic gap.
Aim: observe the effectiveness of IPT, CBT, imipramine, and a placebo in treating MDD
Method:
1. Patients that came from three different treatment centres in America
2. Depressed clients were randomly assigned to one of four treatment conditions for few months
3. A large number of assessments were carried out before, during, and after the study: symptoms, life functioning, and functioning related to particular treatment approaches
Conclude:
1. The three treatments achieved significant and equivalent degrees of success and were for the most part superior to the placebo group
2. Imipramine was faster than the other treatments in reducing depressive symptoms during treatment
3. Patients in both IPT and CBT reported significantly greater effects of treatment on their capacity to establish and maintain interpersonal relationships and to recognize and understand the sources of their depression
Marian and Neisser (2000)
Cue-Dependent Recall (Language-Dependent Recall): Retrieval of memories is more effective when the same cues present during encoding are also present during recall. Language is one.
Etic Approach: Disorders and the behaviours that come along with them occur the same way in every society
Emic: Many factors come into play when diagnosing and treating a client
Aim: Are memories easier to access when we attempt to access them in the language in which they happened
Method:
1. 20 students who had immigrated to the US in their early teens. They were all bilingual in Russian and English
2. Each participant was asked to recall autobiographical information that had happened either before they immigrated to the US - that is, when they still lived in Russia - or after they immigrated to the US
3. They were either asked the Set 1 words in Russian or English. Set 2 would then be asked in the other language.
4. For some of the words they were asked for memories from childhood (when they were still in Russia) and for the other half they were asked for stories from their teenage years and early adulthood (after immigration)
5. The participants were asked to tell the first story that came to mind. They could speak either Russian or English in response.
Conclusion:
1. Participants retrieved more experiences from the Russian-speaking period of their lives when interviewed in Russian and more experiences from the English-speaking period of their lives when interviewed in English
Zhang (2002)
Chinese Taoist Cognitive Psychotherapy: Verses from Taoist writings that highlight main principles, such as restricting selfish desires, learning how to be content, and learning to let go, are read and reflected on by the client
Aim: Efficacy of CTCP
Method:
1. Chinese Patients with Generalised Anxiety Disorder
2. Randomly assigned to one of 3 groups: CTCP only, benzodiazepines only, or a combination of the two
3. Patients were evaluated before the study, after one month, and then again after six months of treatment
conclude:
1. After the first month, they found that benzodiazepines produced better results.
2. after six months the patients in the CTCP group had a greater reduction of symptoms
3. those in the combined treatment group had the greatest symptom reduction with a low chance of relapse
