Factors Influencing The Development Of Major Depressive Disorder

One of the most common psychiatric disorders is known as clinical depression and affects anywhere between 3% and 13% of the population with some form of depressive symptoms affecting as much as 20% of the adult population at some point in their lives (Amenson & Lewinson, 1981; Kessler et al., 1994; Oliver & Simmons, 1985, as cited in Antonuccio, Danton, & DeNelsky, p. 574). The concept of ‘harmful dysfunction’ advanced by Horwitz and Wakefield (2007) describes two key components of clinical depression: a dysfunctional mechanism and the dysfunction being harmful to the individual (as cited in, Parker & Paterson, p.405). This paper explores the following questions: what does research indicate about clinical depression and what are the implications for treatment? Reviews are presented in regards to the emergence of depression and psychotherapy versus medication to treat clinical depression. Considerations are briefly discussed and the research paper will conclude with an interpretation of the critical points.

According to Barlow (2008), major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most common depressive disorder and affects million of Americans each year. The symptoms experienced by individuals with MDD can be debilitating. The Global Burden of Disease Study, initiated by the World Health Organization, estimated depression to be the fourth leading cause of disability in the world (Barlow, 2008). To further examine this, The National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R) found that each year roughly 13 million

Depression used to be diagnosed as melancholia..Between 1938 and 1955.Several reports showed that the commonness of depression in the general population was below 1%. “In the mid-1990s,the lifetime risk for depression was estimated as 3% to 4% worldwide.”(2) To control depression,the use of antidepressioants has grown rapidly since the late 1950s.By the late 1990s nearly 1.77 million people were taking one or even mulitiple antidepressioants for depression or diesases assumedly on the depressive spectrum.It has been suggested that in spite of the large uses of antidepressioants have been undertreated.

As research on major depression is ever expanding and developing, it is pivotal to critically analyse the validity of studies in this area. The main focus of researchers over time has been centered on discovering ways to implement effective treatments and determining preventative measures. However, more importantly identifying key theories behind why major depression occurs in the first place in this assignment will help to further understand this common mental illness and how certain medications can either improve or worsen a person’s condition.

The disorder I will be focusing on is Major Depressive Disorder. Major Depressive Disorder, also known as major depression, has been a continuing health problem for human beings throughout the course of history. According to documents written by philosophers, healers and other writers, depression has had a deep-rooted existence dating as far back as the second millennium B.C. At this time, Major Depressive Disorder was referred to as “melancholia.” The earliest documentation of melancholia appeared in the ancient texts of the Mesopotamian population. It was then believed that all mental illness was a result of demonic possession and could only be healed by the power of a priest. It was not until much later that the first historical understanding of depression as a spiritual or mental illness was recorded. According to historical documentation, populations such as the ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Egyptian civilizations had controversial thinking about the causes of melancholia, or depression. The Chinese and Egyptian cultures believed that their mentally ill were possessed by demons and practiced exorcism techniques such as beatings, restraint and starvation. Unlike the Chinese and Egyptians, the Romans and Greeks contributed mental illness and depression to biological and psychological disease. Treatment techniques such as gymnastics, massage, special diets, music, baths and herbal

Major depressive disorder is a psychological disorder because it impacts the person’s ability to function as they regularly would without the disorder. Regardless of how treatable the disorder is, if the disorder is not in a neurotypical, healthy mindstate, the person is distressed by the disorder, and the person is not able to function regularly, the disorder is classified as a psychological disorder. While most professionals would not label major depressive disorder as a “disease”, the TV host is correct in his statement that it may be treated. However, the forms of treatment for major depressive disorder (therapy, diet/exercise, medication) may not work for everyone, and it may take a while for the person to find a regimen that works for

Major Depression Disorder affects all areas of life for the person living with major depression disorder. When depressed, people struggle to perform normal everyday activities. They have trouble concentrating on their work, they tend to isolate themselves from social activities, become lethargic, and lose the ability to enjoy things that used to bring them pleasure such as eating and sex. Cognitive impairments are now recognized as a significant facet of major depressive disorder (MDD) (Snyder, 2013). The brain plays a vital role in fostering survival in life and reproduction among species. When are brains are malfunctioning in ways such as in depression if affects all aspects of a person’s life. Psychologists have

Depression has many degrees of severity from a passing feeling to a serious illness, which destroys lives and relationships. Major depressive disorder is the most severe form of depression. It is extreme and persistent, rendering the patient inconsolable and helpless (1). Depressed patients often cannot continue working and have difficulty dealing with family and friends. Other symptoms of major depression are deep despair, misery, irritability, low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, change in eating and sleeping habits, fatigue and inability to concentrate. Other mental illnesses, such as anxiety and alcoholism are also associated with major depression (2). While serious depressive episodes are

Major Depression: Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects millions worldwide and is the most common psychiatric disorder (Singh & Gotlib, 2014). Symptoms of MDD can include: loss of appetite, lack/loss of energy or pleasure, fatigue, disturbed sleep patterns, and suicidal ideation. Depression is considered a disabling disease as all aspects of the individual’s life are affected by the illness (Milanovic, Erjavec, Poljicanin, Vrabec, & Brecic, 2015). The underlying cause or mechanism of depression has many theories that stretch from biological (chemical imbalances) to psychosocial (socio-economics) (Roy & Campbell, 2013).

Within the textbook required in this course, there are many disorders that can be chosen from to write about. For this research paper, the disorder that was chosen was depression and then to make it narrower, the disorder that was chosen is major depressive disorder. This essay goes through the etiology, some symptoms of major depression, the treatment for when a diagnosis is made, and the cultural impact of major depressive disorder.

Depression is a normal emotional reaction to perceived loss and hopelessness (Segal, Williams, & Teasdale, 2002). There are a number of different types of depression such as chronic depression, manic depression and the primary focus of this essay Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). MDD is a clinical depression, which is more chronic and more severe compared to other types of depression. It significantly disrupts the individual’s ability to meet the normal demands of life. According to many clinicians, clinical depression should be considered as a medical illness in need of medical intervention. Other mental health professionals believe this is an overstatement of the role of physiology and the

Jocelyn KearneyHealth and Quality of LifeProfessor ZuberMarch 26, 2017 According to the Mayo Clinic, Major Depression Disorder is a disorder that results in apersistent feeling of sadness of interest lost. It affects how an individual feels, thinks and behaveleading to multiple emotional and physical complications and causes trouble in day-to-dayactivities. Symptoms include feelings of hopelessness or sadness; anger/irritability at smallmatters; lack of pleasure or interest; sleep problems (insomnia or not sleeping at all); lack ofenergy and tiredness, appetite changes, anxiety, slower pace of thinking speaking or bodymovements; feeling worthless or guilty, trouble in decision making, thinking, paying attentionand remembering things; reoccurring

The need for a classification of mental disorders has been clear throughout the history of medicine. The American Psychiatric Association, the DSM was first published in 1984. The DSM-IV symptom criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) are somewhat lengthy, many studies showing that treatment providers have difficulty recalling all nine symptoms (American Psychological Association, 2010). The symptom inclusion criteria for the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) have remained essentially unchanged during the past 35 years. Since there has been more revision and more research, the criteria for depressive disorders has been changed to be able to diagnose each individual more appropriately. This is why the DSM-5 was developed.

There are a number of psychiatric conditions that patients in a primary care setting can present with, making it essential that not only are healthcare practitioners who work in the behavioral health setting, but also those employed in the primary care setting need to be familiar with a variety of psychiatric disorders. Additionally, it is necessary to be proficient in the diagnostic criteria, common comorbidities, prevention strategies, and common screening tools that are available for use within the primary care and behavioral health settings. The following paper provides an overview of these key aspects as they relate to the psychiatric condition of major depressive disorder.

There could be numerous factors that could lead to the causation of major depressive disorder (MDD). These different factors could also be linked with one another depending on the particular individual suffering with the mental illness. Fava and Kendler proposed that there are four major risk factors associated with MDD, these include; ‘gender, stressful life events, adverse childhood experiences and certain personality traits’ (Fava & Kendler, 2000).