Depression: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor and Classical Conditioning Essay

Submitted By LeleiBergin1
Words: 2341
Pages: 10
Open Document
Depression is generally thought of as having feelings of sadness and hopelessness from time to time. However, Major Depressive Disorder, is a debilitating mental disorder characterised by feelings of low mood and aversion to activities that they person may have gained pleasure from before. Key signs or symptoms are changes in mood, thinking, behavior and physical changes and usually accompanies changes in either eating too little/ overeating, sleeping too much/insomnia, fatigue, loss of energy, problems concentrating, irritability and pains or digestive problems that are resistant to treatment. Depressed people may become preoccupied with feelings of low self-worth, inappropriate guilt or regret, helplessness, hopelessness and self hatred. More severe forms of MDD may accompany psychosis/ loss of contact with reality which can include hallucinations or delusions (The Ministry of Health, 2012).

Depression can be caused by many things, including normal reactions to life events such as the death of a loved one. However, over time, the cause of depression has evolved to include psychological, psychosocial, hereditary, evolutionary and biological factors. Psychological treatments focus on the personality, interpersonal communication and learning (eg counselling, psychotherapy), whereas biological theories focus on explaining that the depletion of particular chemicals (neurotransmitters); serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, are the main cause of depression and focus on treatment with antidepressant medications (The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies [ABCT], n.d).

Biological explanations postulate that depression must be linked to changes in the brain. One of the major theories of the biological explanation is the Monoamine Theory of Depression. This theory postulates that depression is caused by having deficient levels of neurotransmitters; dopamine, serotonin and norephedrine. These neurotransmitters are essential to the transfer of information from neuron to neuron, as they act as chemical messengers across neuron synapses. With a depletion of chemical messengers, the information is unable to be passed to the next neuron and therefore this is where the problem is.

Each neurotransmitter has a specific objective, for example serotonin is concerned with regulating other neurotransmitter systems and therefore if there is a depletion in serotonin, then the other neurotransmitters will be out of sync and act in unusual and erratic ways. According to this theory, if there are low levels of serotonin then serotonin will not be passed on at neuronal synapses, and therefore if the job of serotonin is to control other neurotransmitter systems, then consequently, other essential neurotransmitters, dopamine and norephedrine will be unable to carry out their essential tasks (Hoyer, Hanner & Martin, 2001). Serotonin receptors are found widely in the peripheral and central nervous system and produce inhibitory and excitatory responses. It is thought that these receptors influence biological and neurological processes such as anxiety aggression, appetite, cognition, learning, memory, mood, nausea, sleep and thermoregulation (Hoyer et al. 2001) A study conducted in New Zealand, examined a cohort of normal people over a period of time, and hypothesised why stressful experiences lead to depression in some people and not others. It was found that a functional polymorphism in the in the promoter region of the serotonin (5-HT) transporter gene was discovered to moderate and influence the reaction to stressful life events of depression. It was also found that individuals who exhibited one or two copies of the short allele, 5-HTT, showed more depressive symptoms, were more inclined to be suicidal and be diagnosed with clinical depression (Caspi et al., 2003).

If there is a depletion in serotonin, then as already stated above, the other neurotransmitters will be unable to complete their essential tasks within the body
Show More

Related Documents: Depression: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor and Classical Conditioning Essay

Psy Chapter 15 Essay

Therapist qualities according to Rogers 1. Genuineness 2. Unconditional positive regard for client 3. Empathic understanding V. Behavior therapies—Changing problem behaviors A. Behaviorists not interested in where problems come from B. Classical conditioning techniques 1. Counterconditioning—Mary Cover Jones a. Learning a new conditioned response that replaces the old one b. Peter's fear of rabbits 1. Rabbit in the room but far away 2. Peter eating snacks in his high chair…

Words 1249 - Pages 5

Case Study Essay

The last study conducted in the United States found that the chance of someone having major depression in their lifetime is about one in six. Research has shown that depression is influenced by both biological and environmental factors. Studies show that first degree relatives of people with depression have a higher incidence of the illness, whether they are raised with this relative or not, supporting the influence of biological factors. Situational…

Words 2244 - Pages 9

Study Guide on Anxiety Essay

Biological: genetics: collections of different genes; stress; specific brain circuits/neurotransmitter systems; depleted GABA Psychological: classical conditioning, modeling, learning 4 common psychological processes in anxiety disorders fear-evoking stimuli: can basically include anything maladaptive beliefs: negative thoughts about what is feared selective attention: attention is heightened to that fear evoking stimuli safety behaviors: intentional efforts to prevent dangerous…

Words 2971 - Pages 12

Psychotherapy and Disorders Biomedical Therapies Essay

try to understand their current symptoms . Focus on themes, important relationships, childhood relationships. Meeting twice a week Therapists reveal past relationship troubles as the origin of difficulties Interpersonal psychotherapy – treats depression Relief symptoms in the here and now , focus primarily on current relationships and on helping them prove their relationship skills. Humanistic Therapies emphasizes peoples potential for self fulfillment . Help people grow awareness and self-acceptance…

Words 1172 - Pages 5

Chapter 14 Psych Notes Essay

Chapter 14: Treatment What is Psychotherapy? Psychotherapy Involves a Healing Personal Relationship In psychotherapy the focus is entirely on the client’s needs and problems. The therapist is paid a fee for his or her time and expertise. The psychotherapy relationship takes place in a structured setting. Each meetings between the therapist and the client is time-limited. The psychotherapy relationship is expected to terminate. People Enter Psychotherapy for Many Reasons Psychotherapy: A unique…

Words 3912 - Pages 16

Importance Of Attribution

Attribution-a judgment about the cause of a person’s behavior Dispositional Attribution- a judgment assigning the cause of a person’s behavior to his or her personal qualities or characteristics Situational Attribution-a judgment assigning the cause of a person’s behavior to his or her environment Correspondence Bias- the tendency to view behaviors as the result of disposition when the behavior can be completely explained by the situation in which it occurs Defensive Attribution- blaming the victim…

Words 1725 - Pages 7

Abnormal Psyc Review Essay

* Serotonin (5HT) – associated w depressions, clinical approval for treatment for mood disorders; peacefulness and calmness * Gamma aminobutyric Acid (GABA) – cortical regions, feeling of sedation and relaxation; i.e. dentists * Norepinephrine – agitating, alerting, arousing component in the brain * Dopamine – associated w psychosis; too much = hallucinate, too little = Parkinson’s disease * Psychological contributions * Conditioning and cognitive…

Words 3059 - Pages 13

How Are Fear And Anxiety Different?

with the different perspectives (Socio cultural, Psychodynamic, etc) of the etiology of phobias. Also be familiar with whether the research supports these perspectives. 12. Be especially familiar with the behavioral perspective. Know what classical conditioning is and how it might related to phobias, as well as modeling and stimulus generalization. What is preparedness? 13. What is exposure treatment? How are flooding and systematic desensitization different? When might social skills training be…

Words 1565 - Pages 7

Social Psychology Essay

Social Psychology How people influence one another We have a bio need for social interaction Social isolation activates areas of cingulate cortex (also associated w/ physical pain) We seek to conform to a group (evolutionarily) Social Facilitation: The presence of others enhances our performance 1897 – 1st social psych experiment – bicyclist’s bike faster when racing others rather than the clock Social Disruption: Presence of others worsens performance (usually when task is difficult Attribution…

Words 2620 - Pages 11

AP Psych Hw Essay

patient’s current symptoms by focusing on themes across important relationships, including childhood experiences and the therapist relationship. ● Interpersonal psychotherapy, a brief variation of psychodynamic therapy, has been effective in treating depression. ● It aims to help people gain insight into the roots of their difficulties, but its purpose is symptom relief in the here and now, not overall personality change. ● Rather than focusing mostly on undoing past hurts and offering interpretations…

Words 4574 - Pages 19