Biochemical Causes Of Depression Research Paper

Major depression is a commonly diagnosed psychological disorder affecting individuals’ ability to feel happiness and peace of mind. Those who suffer experience negative emotions, lack of motivation, changes in behaviour and dysfunctional cognitive symptoms. Depression is classified by the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) as five of more of the listed symptoms present persistently over the same two weeks. One of these symptoms must be depressed mood or loss of interest in previously pleasurable activities. Depression causes disruption to typical daily life such as inability to maintain friendships and jobs. Other symptoms outlined by the DSM-5 include; insomnia, fatigue and recurrent thoughts of death. There is much debate over what exactly causes depression. Biological explanations question hereditary and neurotransmitter factors. While psychological theories include the cognitive ideas of Beck’s negative triad and hopelessness theory. This essay will focus on the ways in which psychological and biological explanations contrast and how their theories can overlap to better understand depression.

Biopsychologists believe genetics plays a factor in depression for if one has depression it is more likely that a close relative may and will suffer from depression as well. In fact about 20 percent of those relatives suffer from depression as well (Comer, R. J. 2010). Sometimes the cause for depression is simply a chemical imbalance. Low activity of norepinephrine and serotonin has been linked to unipolar depression. As well as certain interactions between neurotransmitters and the endocrine system itself has been linked to depression.

Depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors (“Depression: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments” 2015). Researchers are becoming increasingly aware that depression runs in families (Kam,2009) meaning that certain genes may make people prone to depression suggesting a biological vulnerability. The biological factors that have some effect on the hereditary and biological influences of depression are the genes, hormones, and brain chemicals.

Depression is a disorder that can be caused by many factors. Stress, medication, other medical illnesses, and personality traits can all contribute to depression, but the most common cause, however, is heredity (yahoo.com 1). These are all theorized guesses as to what causes clinical depression. The actual cause has not yet been resolved (yahoo.com 1). It is considered that usually more than one factor causes the disorder (yahoo.com 2).

Biologically , genetics, comorbidity vascular changes in the brain, vitamin, B-12 deficiency and some medications prescribed or recreational can precipitate depression. Depression can

The chemical imbalance explanation this is the sole cause of depression. However, as France, Lysaker, and Robinson (2007) acknowledge chemical imbalances such as serotonin, monoamines (found in most antidepressants), and depletion of SSRI neurotransmitters contribute to depression, these imbalance are not the sole cause of depression. For example, the treatment for depression involves the use of antidepressants, which show the restoration of balance to these chemicals, but show little or no improvement in the symptoms of depression. In addition, studies by Dr. Amen and Dr. Gray (as cited in the book notes of Pourbabaee, n.d.) implies abnormal levels of serotonin in the limbic system results in an overactive limbic system. This over activity causes changes in the anatomy of the limbic system resulting in a person having negative thoughts, experiencing chronic distress and hopelessness. This is one example of how changes to the anatomy of the brain cause depression. However, Damage

Some have said there is a specific gene type we may carry, some say what we inherit isn’t in our DNA, but a vulnerability. When vulnerability is brought up along with the topic of depression, it makes it out to be a very dangerous situation. This means that if someone has close relatives who have clinical depression, that somebody may inherit a tendency to develop the illness. It does not necessarily mean that we are destined to become depressed at some point in our lives, but there is definitely a higher risk for those who are raised in this scenario. If someone has grew up with a family history of depression, are they truly at a high risk? If someone has a parent or family member with major depression, that person has a two to three times greater risk of developing the illness compared with the average person. The situation is typically a little different if the parent or close relative has had depression more than just once, known as recurrent depression, and if the illness started relatively early in the person’s life (childhood, teens, or early twenties). This form of depression would be less common – the exact percentage of the population is not exactly known for sure, but statistically may be around three to five percent. The relatives and children of people with this form of depression usually develop it at a

The last factor of depression is sociocultural factors. The main sociocultural factor that can increase the chances of depression is wealth. People who have more money are less likely to

it. Since depression is a chemical off-balance in the head, the hormones that are in the

Brain chemistry. Change in the balance of neurotransmitters are likely play a role in depression.

Another imbalance that often causes biological depression is amine imbalance. Amines are the neurotransmitters that float in the synapse between two nerve cells in the brain (Smith 3). The key amines are serotonin and norepinephrine. When there is a decrease in the levels of these neurotransmitters, depression often occurs.

The severity of depression has been supported through scientific evidence that indicates that depression has a biological basis in the brain of a depressed person along with psychological and social implications. Whilst there are many catalysts in a person’s life that can be identified as a possible root cause of depression, such as stressful life events or the death of a loved one, the issue is far more complex, as the biological triggers of depression are not as easily expressed, such as faulty mood regulation in the brain, vulnerable genetics in the DNA, and other medical problems. Many things are altered in the brain of the depressed person. Firstly, what most understand to be an imbalance in the levels of chemicals that regulate emotions, is in reality far more elaborate. The true issue surrounding the many chemicals involved inside and outside of the nerve cells that undergo numerous chemical reaction which make up the dynamic system that is responsible for mood, perceptions, and the way one experiences life you experiences life can be altered in different ways that affect how one lives. Along with the brains chemicals, the connections between nerve cells called neurons decrease and deteriorate, meaning the

The exact cause of depression is not known, but there are several factors that play

Almost everyone suffers from depression one point in time in their life, most people believe that depression is a state of being sad, but in reality, it's actually a disease that takes over the ability to feel different sorts of emotion, rather if its good or not. People who suffer from severe depression have a hard time coping to everyday life such as, the ability to function correctly at work or with their family members and close friends. It cause so much emotional sadness and pain to the individual who is suffering from the condition, and also to the ones who loves them the most. Study shows that depression can be pass down person to person by there genetic genes or some sort of outside interference such as stressful life events, medical problems or

Over the years, people have argued and discussed about what could be possible causes of depression. Some experts believe that a person’s genes could be a determinative of whether he or she is inclined or genetically predisposed, to depression. Experts point it to the fact that depressive genes could run in families. Other specialists lessen the role of the person’s genetic, arguing that depression is generally caused by stress, trauma, or physical or mental illness.