Depression A2 Psychology (sourced from Emma Rudd)

Depression

Definition = Depression is an affective mood disorder, with prolonged disturbances to mood and emotions.

Clinical Characteristics

Unipolar Disorder (Major Depression) is characterised by;

• Lowering of mood – individual feels intensely unhappy and empty

• Lack of motivation, drive, determination and initiative

• Negative views of themselves and the world

• Feelings of anxiety

• Disturbances to sleep and appetite

• Changes in menstrual cycle

Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression) includes

• Both manic and depressive episodes

• Delusions

• Hallucinations (Auditory and visual)

• Easily distracted

• Rapid speech, more talkative

Other Symptoms

• Lack of motivation

• Lack of physical energy

• Low self esteem

• Isolation

• Social Withdrawal

• Crying

• Not wanting to eat/go out/ see people

• Iritic emotions

• Insomnia

Biological Explanations of Depression

1. Genetics

The medical approach argues that psychological problems have a physical cause. It argues that genes are one of these causes. From this view people with a particular genetic makeup have a predisposition to depression.

Supporting Evidence

• Twin Studies – Allen

Allen looked at unipolar (major depression)and found

• For (MZ) identical twins there was a concordance rate of 49%

• For (DZ) non-identical twins the concordance rate was just 11%

He then looked at Bipolar (manic depression) and found

• For identical / MZ twins there was a 72% concordance rate

• For non identical / DZ twins the concordance rate was just 14%

The fact that the concordance rates were different for the unipolar disorder and the bipolar disorder suggests that if genetic factors are the cause then they are different for the 2 disorders.

Evaluation of Genetic Explanation

• Twin studies can provide convincing evidence to support the role of genetic factors

• Twins share the same environment, therefore cannot separate the influences.

• If it were completely biological concordance rate for identical would be 100%

• Produces a bias sample most people aren’t twins so generalisation is difficult

• Difficult to obtain a sample, twins who suffer and are willing to take part

• Ethics – Some argue that research into genetics and behaviour will influence some to ‘iron out’ what they consider undesirable traits. Who decides what is desirable or undesirable?

• Adoption Studies – These are studies that compare people who have been adopted with their biological and adoptive parents

• Harrington et al (1993) found that biological relatives are more likely than adoptive relatives to have a similar diagnosis. - 20% of biological relatives compared with 5% of adoptive relatives

• Wender et al (1986) found that biological relatives of unipolar sufferers were 8 times more likely to have had it themselves

Evaluation of Adoption Studies

• Findings from adoption studies are unclear

• There are relatively few adoption studies conducted

1. Chromosomes

Studies have attempted to identify sequences of genes that appear to be inherited alone with the predisposition to develop depression.

• Egeland et al researched the Amish community and found that

• 4 extended families had a high predisposition for developing depression

• From 81 people studied 14 were diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

• The disorder appeared to be linked to chromosome 11

Evaluation

• Findings haven’t been replicated. – This could suggest C11 doesn’t actually play a…