Behavior Theory and Depression

Depression is a mood disorder which is categorised by low mood and a wide range of other symptoms, which will inevitably differ depending on the individual. This mental health illness can either progress at a fast rate or steadily. Many scientific and medicinal professionals view depression as a defence mechanism that the body implements in order to escape from stress. Seligman (1973) discussed depression in terms of it being like a ‘common cold’ of psychiatry, due to how frequently it is diagnosed. The behaviourist approach accentuates the significance of the environment in regards to determining an individual’s behaviour. To behaviourist theorists, our behaviour does not relate with our internal unconscious struggles or suppressions. However, psychologists in this field use ideologies of the learning theory to explain human behaviour. According to the behavioural theory, dysfunctional behaviour such as depression is learned and so because of this, psychologists propose that it can also be unlearned. This perspective focuses on behaviour which is observable and the circumstances in which a particular individual has learnt that behaviour. As a result, depression is therefore seen by behaviourist theorists as a result of an individual’s contact with their environment.

"Men pray to the gods for health and they ignore that it is in their power to have it."

     The axon terminals after the neurotransmitters are released are supposed to reabsorb the extra neurotransmitters. The lack of serotonine in the neurons cause a lack of serotonine transporters, the spots on the neurons responsible for reabsorbing serotonine. Ecstasy blocks the re-uptake of serotonine by the synaptic terminal. The serotonine becomes toxic and begins to kill off brain cells (“After the Rave: the Ecstasy Hangover”, (www.faculity.washington.edu/chudler/mdma.html).

They are popularly referred to as being part of a continuum, the ability to successfully perform in productive activities and relationships, as opposed to the inability to do such things (Mental Illness Overview). Ever since the first edition of the DSM was published in 1952, scientists have studied how a person’s mind relates to their brain and whether the disorders they listed were organic or purely in the mind (Arben). Science has made extraordinary leaps in this aspect, as they have come to discover not only the biological change that causes mental illnesses, but they are also able to pin down even specific chromosomes linked to them. One in particular that has been heavily studied is depression, which is known to be related to a lack of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain. Some of the more recently developed medications, known as SSRIs, block the receptors that recycle serotonin from taking in too much and allowing enough to carry proper signals throughout the brain (Johnson). While some people insist on the opinion that drugs such as these are overprescribed (Medications for Mental Illness Are Overprescribed), professionals use tested algorithms when determining whether a patient is in need of medication, and if so what medication to use (Restricting Medications for Mental Illness Harms Patients). These methods have been fine-tuned over the past few decades and are used treat a patient to their own personal needs, and to aid

Beck (1967) provides a psychological explanation of MD from a cognitive perspective. He proposes a cognitive theory of depression that includes the primary negative triad in depression, which reflects “three major cognitive patterns” that depicts how depressed individuals view themselves, the world and the future “in an idiosyncratic way”. This theory focuses on negative schema and dysfunctional attitudes contributing to MD, which can be clarified as inflexible cognitive structures that negatively filter and bias information (Hankin et al., 2009). Support for this theory is demonstrated by Boury et al (2001) in the exploratory study monitoring student’s negative thoughts with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), where it was found that “BDI-II

MDMA has been found to be useful in treating schizophrenia due to the effects in has when it saturates the 5HT2A receptors in the prefrontal cortex. This causes the MDMA to block D2 receptors in the mesolimbic area, which reduces the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations. This is because the hypoactive release of DA is blocked, and the stimulatory effects on glutamate releases from 5HT2A receptors such as activated mesolimbic dopamine neurons is reduced, preventing

Psychotic depression occurs when a depressive illness also includes hallucinations, delusions or the patient feeling removed from reality. Psychotic depression affects approximately one in four people admitted to the hospital for depression.

Other drugs, such as amphetamine or cocaine, can cause the nerve cells to release abnormally large amounts of natural neurotransmitters or prevent the normal recycling of these brain chemicals. This disruption produces

developed several chemical compounds with aspirations to succeed in the pharmaceutical market. They ended up developing MDMA, but it was not used to treat anxiety until the 1970’s (Cromer, 2013). It did not come under harsh scrutiny by the FDA until the 1980’s due to the growing recreational usage in society (Sessa and Nutt, 2014). This obviously lead to a significant halt in researching this drug, but some clinical trials were able to succeed. However, they had inconclusive results and they still do today. Now that science has come such a long way, scientists are able to better study how the drug works and the long and short-term effects it can have on those taking the drug. Christian, Grey, and Sorg claim that the effects of MDMA set in approximately 20 minutes after ingestion and its effects can last from four to six hours (Christian, Grey, and Sorg, 2015). A psychologist or team of psychologists will administer the drug to the patient and listen to them as they talk about their problems. They will generally not direct the conversation, but allow the patient to direct it and focus on the point of trauma when they feel comfortable and ready. This drug causes an increase in the production of serotonin in the brain, a chemical that is responsible for making people feel content and extremely happy (Cromer, 2013). These feelings of happiness and bliss will then lead the patient to feel more comfortable with their

MDMA effects three neurotransmitters: serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. The feelings of strong emotion and increase in sociability are likely due to the release of serotonin, as serotonin is a large factor in mood. Serotonin is also responsible for releasing vasopressin and oxytocin, which also amplify feelings caused by MDMA. After the release of serotonin, however, the brain “comes down” from these feelings. Confusion, depression, and anxiety are common after serotonin has been depleted, and may become chronic after heavy MDMA

Have you ever wondered what really causes depression? Or how people are even depressed and not just sad? The reason I chose this topic is because I have depression. Not only that but I only know a limited amount of this disorder, and also considering the fact that depression runs along side both of my mom’s and dad’s side of the family. My curiosity grows as I wonder, what does this really mean? Why was i diagnosed with depression? Is depression permanent or can it be cured? How? Where does depression come from? On this journey as i take you into the world of mental health knowledge, you will also get to know a little bit about depression, and maybe answer some of your questions.

One of the most common states people tend to fall into is depression. Depression is where someone has a low mood in which the emotion they are currently in will likely affect their thoughts and behavior. When someone is in that state, they are getting isolated. This means they are at the part where they are losing focus, as well as becoming stressed out. However, if life becomes worse, there is a high risk they are going to take away their own life. This does not happen to everyone who is in depression, but there are some that will end it all. When an individual is depressed, they often become isolated and as a result are more likely to commit suicide.

An individual’s behavior and emotion becomes chemically altered often resulting in dependency, aggression, onset of diseases and poor judgement. This poses a dangerous threat to the neurotransmitters since they have multiple jobs in different parts of the brain. Drugs of abuse are able to exert influence over the brain reward pathway either by directly influencing the action of dopamine within the system, or by altering the activity of other neurotransmitters that exert a modulatory influence over this pathway. These drugs are often powerful and have been known to trigger schizophrenic behavior and can also cause a person to cease breathing, for example hallucinogens such as LSD, mescaline, and psilocybin are able to artificially stimulate the serotonin receptor (Sapolsky, 2005).

Depression have become a major problem in our society today. People who haven’t experience depression will not understand how it feel and what it can do to a person. Many people also doesn’t understand what depression is, or how it can related to suicidal ideation. In fact, studies have documented that the majority of young suicide victims had depression at the time of death and most suicide survivors were diagnosed with symptoms of clinical depression at the time of their attempt (Mojs, Biederman, Głowacka, Strzelecki, Ziemska, Samborski 2015). It can affect anyone, from young adolescents to college students to the elderly people. There are many reasons that can make someone have major depression. Such as financial problems, family problems, social problems, school, work, etc. These stressors in our daily life can cause anxiety which can increase our stress level significantly, which then can lead to depression. A research said that anxiety disorder have a high comorbidity with depression and that anxiety occur prior to the onset of depressive disorders in many individuals (Batterham, Christensen, Calear 2013). People who experience depression must find way to cope with depression and know how to get help in order to prevent suicidal ideation. The people surroundings, friends and family, must also find ways to recognize the symptoms of depression, and show understandings in order to help those suffering. This research project will help people understand more about

Once in the synapse, MDMA binds to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron and causes a decrease in its firing rate. The presence of so much serotonin as well as MDMA activates many receptors on the postsynaptic neuron. There are approximately 15 different serotonin receptors, and the quantity of each type differs from person to person (Kalat 68). Because MDMA has an affinity for particular receptors and the quantity of those receptors can be so varied, the effects of MDMA are varied as well.