depression

• sadness is when you feel low for a short period of time, usually triggered by something, however it will go away.
• depression is when you feel low over a long period of time, it isn't necessarily triggered by anything, it isn't easy to get rid of
• bipolar is when the person experiences 2 states: intense emotions, lows and a euphoric 'mania'
• unipolar is when the person experiences one state of emotional low
• symptoms of unipolar depression

  • low moods
  • loss of interests and pleasure
  • reduced energy levels


  other symptoms

  • changed in appetite levels
  • changes in sleep patterns
  • decrease self-confidence
  • reduced concentration and attention, ideas of guilt and unworthiness, negative views of the future, ideas of self-harm and suicide
• biological explanations


  • imbalance of neurotransmitters
  • lack of serotonin (type of neurotransmitter)
  • genetic condition means cant produce as much serotonin as they need
• what does serotonin affect?

  • improve mood
  • affects memory
  • sleep
  • appetite
• weakness of biological explanation


  it is difficult to establish cause and effect, biological explanation suggests that low serotonin, due to either genetic or dietary causes depression. we can question the biological explanations validity as we are unable to say which one comes first
• strength of biological explanation of depression


  there is research support. McNeal and Cimbolic tested patients with depression and non-depressed patients and found that those with depression had lower levels if serotonin than those with. this supports the idea that serotonin is related to depression and that lower levels of serotonin may cause depression
• cognitive explanation refers to the reason for being depressed is because of faulty thinking or irrational thinking
• learnt helplessness is a cognitive response to a traumatic experience where 1) the individual believes they have no control over their environment and 2) the individual will not attempt to escape
• SSRI's block the transporter proteins so that more serotonin will stay in the synaptic cleft. serotonin is a neurotransmitter that makes us feel happy. when more serotonin is available in the synapse our mood will improve lessening the symptoms of depression
• how do SSRI's work


  Neurotransmitters carry signals between nerve cells in the brain, called neurons. After carrying a signal between brain cells, serotonin is usually taken back into those cells, a process called reuptake. But SSRIs block this process. Blocking reuptake makes more serotonin available to help pass messages between brain cells.
• CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy)


  focuses on what the patients think

  • changing the way a patient thinks, behaves
  • behaviour activation is used, its when patients are encouraged to set themselves small pleasant tasks which makes them feel as if they accomplished something
• advantages of cbt


  • useful when medication alone doesn't work
  • can be completed in a relatively short time compared with other talking therapies
  • highly structured so can be in different forms (books, apps etc)
  • teaches useful strategies
  • has long-lasting effects
• disadvantages of cbt


  • need to commit to it
  • takes up a lot of time
  • may not be suitable for people with complex mental health needs or learning disabilities
  • confronting your emotions and anxieties might make patients uncomfortable
• advantages of antidepressants


  • help to stabilise a person’s mood when they have depression
  • improve quality of life
  • reduce symptoms of depression
• disadvantages of antidepressants


  • side effects
  • reductionist, only targets serotonin
  • do not see improvement in symptoms until 3-4 months of daily use
• What was the aim of Wiles' study?

  To investigate the effectiveness of CBT in treating treatment-resistant depression.
• What were the two treatment conditions compared in Wiles' study?

  CBT + antidepressants and antidepressants alone.
• What type of study design was used in Wiles' research?

  Longitudinal field study.
• How many participants were involved in Wiles' study?

  496 participants.
• What was the age range of participants in Wiles' study?

  18 to 75 years old.
• How were participants allocated into groups in Wiles' study?

  Participants were randomly allocated into control and experimental groups.
• What percentage of participants remained in the study after 6 months?

  84% of participants remained in the study.
• What was the improvement percentage in the control group after 6 months?


  22% improvement in symptoms.
• What was the improvement percentage in the experimental group after 6 months?


  46% improvement in symptoms.
• What percentage of participants remained in the study after 12 months?

  84% of participants remained in the study.
• What did the experimental group show after 12 months?


  Greater levels of recovery compared to the control group.
• What are the conclusions drawn from Wiles' study regarding treatment for depression?

  • CBT + antidepressants is more effective than antidepressants alone.
  • The effects of this treatment may be maintained for 12 months.
• evaluation of wiles study


  • long-lasting effects
  • field study prevents demand characteristics
  • high dropout rate
  • extraneous variables are uncontrollable
  • lots of time and money needed
• wiles study was useful as we can apply it to real-life situations and see how it can be used to help people's depression
• social effects of mental health

  • need for more social care
  • increased crime rate
  • implications for the economy
• individual effects of mental health

  • damage to relationships
  • difficulties coping with day to day life
  • negative impact on physical well-being
• psychological explanation for depression

  • faulty thinking (irrational thinking)
  • negative schemas
  • attributions
  • influences of nurture