Essay Unipolar depression

Submitted By Patsie-Gorman
Words: 1752
Pages: 8
Open Document
Unipolar depression (otherwise known as major depressive disorder) is defined as a mental disorder with depressive symptoms such as lack of self-esteem, weight loss/gain, fatigue and negative thoughts. The
DSM IV is used to diagnose unipolar depression, where the patient needs to suffer at least five symptoms for a two week period and find it ‘disabling’. There are many theories for what causes unipolar depression, some physiological (biological influences) and some psychological (environmental influences); therefore a debate between nature and nurture takes place.
One physiological explanation is genetic vulnerability. This is where illnesses that affect mental functioning such as unipolar depression, a mood disorder, can be partially due to genetic influences. Genes code for cells in our bodies, which determine our characteristics and physiology (e.g. neurotransmitter production and the nervous system), which affect behaviour. The theory proposes that people inherit a predisposition to develop unipolar depression. The main way to research genetic influences on behaviour is twin studies.
Identical (monozygotic) twins have the exact same genes, so if the theory of genetic vulnerability is correct, if one twin has the disorder so will the other. This is known as 100% concordance rate. Concordance rates are measured for monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (non-identical, DZ) twins to check for a comparison between siblings. Dizygotic twins share 50% of genetic material as opposed to monozygotic twins with
100% shared genetic material.
A case study to support this theory is McGuffin, who sampled 214 pairs of twins where at least one was being treated for unipolar depression and found 46% concordance rate for MZ twins as opposed to 20% for
DZ twins. This research suggests genetics play a role in the development of the disorder, but as there was not found to be any 100% concordance rates, genetics cannot be the only cause; however there was a moderate genetic influence. Kendler et al looked at over 15,000 pairs of twins and concluded unipolar depression was ‘moderately heritable’. They found the influence was greater in women than men (49% to
29% respectively), showing environmental factors may also play an important role. It is likely that genes influence vulnerability to negative life events.
Another physiological explanation is the monoamine theory. Monoamines are a group of neurotransmitters including adrenaline, noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine. The theory suggests a lack of these neurotransmitters causes unipolar depression as the necessary messages aren’t being relayed. Neurotransmitters work by electrical impulses being sent along a neuron causing neurotransmitters to be released into the synapse. Receptors in the next neuron take up the neurotransmitter and cause it to ‘fire’ as well, passing along the message.
Serotonin is linked to maintaining mood, controlling eating, sleeping and arousal. Dopamine affects movement and attention, as adrenaline and noradrenaline increase alertness. It is possible genetics programmed the levels of neurotransmitters to be lower than normal, linking to the theory of genetic vulnerability. Delgado et al gave depressed patients who were receiving antidepressant medication a special diet that lowered the levels of one of the precursors of serotonin. The majority of patients experienced a return of depressive symptoms, which disappeared again when their diet was returned back to normal, showing support for the idea that serotonin is related to depressive symptoms.
A study by Klimek et al carried out post-mortem studies on dead brains to investigate noradrenaline. They compared fifteen patients’ brains that had all suffered from depression and fifteen controls. They found a significant difference between the structures of the locus coeruleus in the brain – the structure responsiblefor noradrenaline production. This suggests people with depression have low levels of noradrenaline.
Reimold et al
Show More

Related Documents: Essay Unipolar depression

Abnormal Psychology-Unipolar and Bipolar Depression Essay examples

Psychology | Unipolar and Bipolar Depression | Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment | Shawn M Best 10/16/2011 | Identifying the causes of unipolar and bipolar depression can be a complicated task because there are no known exact causes, just theories. These theories include chemical and hormonal imbalances within the brain, a misfiring of ion activity, and inherited genetics or biological abnormalities (Comer, 2005). Individuals who suffer with unipolar depression, which is the ordinary…

Words 1043 - Pages 5

Essay about Assignment 3 David Hawkins

Biological approach- There are three Biological approaches to treat Unipolar depression 1. Medication- usually alter serotonin, norepinephrine, and/or dopamine which takes 2-4 weeks to have effect The names of the older less expensive medication used to treat Unipolar depression is- Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) - it blocks a reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine. The side effects for taking TCA, the medications to treat unipolar depression. It can cause anticholinergic which is dry mouth, blurred vision…

Words 430 - Pages 2

Essay Depression: Bipolar Disorder and Depression Episodes

Depression Amy Psych270 02/09/14 Depression There are two types of mood disorders I will be discussing, unipolar depression and bipolar. With each mood disorder there are very specific symptoms that can distinguish which disorder a person may be diagnosed with. After diagnosing the disorder, there are several types of treatments that can help a person live a more functional life. Understanding the symptoms to a disorder will be the key to getting help. There are different symptoms of unipolar…

Words 1279 - Pages 6

Essay on Depression: Major Depressive Disorder and Perfect Role Model

Depression Jeff Mason PSY/270 June 16th, 2013 Depression Throughout my life my father had always been what I thought growing up a perfect role model, strong and healthy, intelligent, a good provider, and a good teacher to all of his children. Age began to show with time as it does with us all but I never thought that I would see him succumb to unipolar depression as he did with removal of his larynx and half of his esophagus due to cancer and then the death his wife of 52 years. Four years…

Words 827 - Pages 4

Essay on Depression Psy 270

cause of unipolar and bipolar disorders is depression. A mood emotion and disorder of depression affects many individuals and is one of the highest health conditions most Americans suffer. “Depression is a low, sad state in which life seems dark and its challenges overwhelming,” (Comer, 2006). “Bipolar disorder occurs in both men and women. About 5.7 million people in the United States have the disorder,” (Mara Aloi, 2012). Stress may be the strongest symptom to bring about depression. Bipolar…

Words 659 - Pages 3

Essay Important Questions: Psychological Well Being and Mental Disorder

disorder to include psychodynamic explanations, behavioral explanations, state-dependent learning, and self-hypnosis. Discuss treatment for the dissociative disorders. Describe depersonalization disorder. Chapter 8: MOOD DISORDERS Compare depression and mania while discussing the symptoms of…

Words 411 - Pages 2

Depression Assignment Week 4 Essay

DEPRESSION – UNIPOLAR/BIPOLAR University of Phoenix PSY / 270 – ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY: ABUSE, ADDICTION, AND DISORDERS Instructor: CHRIS SHREVE Sherri “Renee” Sanders 9/7/2013 Unipolar is a state of depression that while in some the symptoms are less severe. It typically doesn’t impeded ones’ ability to function normally. For others the symptoms are very severe…

Words 643 - Pages 3

Depression Paper

Depression Paper Anishka Servick PSY/270 Joan Rachmel April 12, 2015 There are many people around the world suffering from some form of depression, and they are completely unaware that they have a condition that can be treated. Accepting the fact that there may be an underlying issue behind all the extreme highs and lows that never seem to fade away is half the battle. However, unipolar and bipolar disorders are similar yet remarkably different from most of the depression disorders. The unipolar…

Words 920 - Pages 4

How Are Fear And Anxiety Different?

Study Guide, Chapter 4 Note: This is but a guide. There may be questions on the exam that are not covered in this guide. All lectures, video clips and the text are fair game for the exam. READ YOUR BOOK. The best answers are answers you have found in the text. 1. How are fear and anxiety different? Fear is in response to a serious threat while anxiety is in response to a vague threat 2. What class of mental disorders is the most common in the U.S.? Anxiety disorders 3. What are the symptoms…

Words 1565 - Pages 7

Essay Uni-Polar Depression

Jay Bingham 10707597 This essay will be looking at unipolar depression, its symptoms, diagnosis and will also be looking at biological and psychological evaluations and treatments for the condition. Unipolar affects five per cent of the population and is more prevalent in women than in men. There are a range of symptoms for unipolar depression these symptoms include; a depressed mood most of the day, diminished ability to think or concentrate, markedly diminished interest or pleasure in almost…

Words 1447 - Pages 6