Psychological problems

• What are the two main posychogical pr lms that are discussed in the topic

  Unipolar depression

  Addictions (behavioural disorder/ dependance disorder)
• Symptoms of unipolar depression ( there are

  • Feeling sucidal having suicidal thoughts
  • Not enjoying the activites that they used to enjoy
  • Poor sleep. Waking up early even when feeling tired
  • Extreme tiredness
  • Poor appetite or increase in appetite
  • lack fo self esteem
  • Feleing guilty for things - blaming oneselves for problems
  • acting nervously - behaviour is slowed down that usual
• What did PETER MCGUFFIN find in terms of depression in his twins studies

  • Monozygotic twins sharing 100% of their genes have a 48% chance of developing depression if one twin has depresssion
  • This is compared to only 20% chance of developing depression if the teisns are dizygotic ( no identical)
  • Proves that genes play a role in the chance and prossibility of depvelong dperession and sown that depression can be inherited such the monzygotic twinx whom share 100% of ther genes had a higher chance of developing depression if one of them has it
• WHo found that there are 17 different genes variations that can inherit that would lead to developing depression

  Craig hyde et al (2016)
• How does the ICD-10 diagnose someone with depression

  If the patient has depression symtoms listed by the ICD-10 of most days consistenty for 2 weeks
• Features of depression can be classified into 3 - what are they

  • Mild
  • Moderate
  • Severe
• State 3 findings of how depression has changed over time

  • Kings fund England estimates that 1.4 milion people more will be diagnosed with depression in 2026 compared to 2007
  • Hidaka suggests that MODERN LIVING is more stressful nd includls many risk factors to developing depression
  • Martin Seligman (1958)reports that in the 1980s people were 10 times more likely to be diagnosed wih depression than in the 1940s
• Explain how depression affects an individual

  Increases the chances of an individuals being inclined to commit suicide as they may see that as an escape from the worthlessness and sadness that comes with depression. If others they know around them may not give much care to them if they leave, then they are inclined to believe that commiting suicide is the only resort
• Explain why depression affects an individuals occupation and job

  Symptoms of depression is lacking in motivation and feeling extreme tiredness.

  This causes patients to not attend to work on most days due to their reports of feeling tired or lacking in motivation .

  This risks the permanance of their job and adds cost implications to the company to cove the employees workload that has not been completed
• Explain how depression affects society

  Number of days missed from work by patients

  HSE ( health and safety gov) stimated that in 2014-15 9.9 mill days were missed due to depression, stress and anxiety
• Give 2 WEAKNESSES of the genetic explanation of depression

  • Deterministic - it suggests that because someone is predisposed to depression as they carry the gene for it , They are innately attached to that title and there is no free will to them to be able to change themselves to avoid feeling depressed
  • Reductionist - does not take into account other factors that may influence a person developing depression such as stressful life events e.g a death of a loved one. The explanation is too simplistic to assume that only our biology makes someone depressed
• Strengths of the genetic explanation of depression

  • Removes the stigma of people having mental health disorders
  • Leads to a society that is understanding of others' depression and conditions
• Genetic explanation of depression

  Knowing that being depressed is in someone's genes means they are unable to control that and they are liberated from feeling as though it is their fault for being depressed
• Research evidence supporting genetic role in depression

  • Caspi et al 2003 found that the variation of the serotonin transporter gene makes people more likely to react negatively to stressful life events and develop depression
• Lots of research evidence to support that our genes play a major role in developing depression - some people are more prone to developing depression than others due to their genes
• Why is haing 17 different gene vairations that are linked to depression a weakness

  It makes it a challenge to determine what makes a person depressed difficult to be easily deduced
• Name the 2 cognitvie theories that explain depression

  • Beck's negative triad
  • Ellis ABC model
• Explain necks negatve triad

  He suggests the people develop negative thinking after experiences in life. The negstive thinking is shown in 3 thought patterns:
• Explain Ellis's ABC model 


  Suggests that there are 3 stages that cause a person to develop depression through their thinking and thought processes

  The activating event is an event in someone's life that is unsettling, causes them to be upset

  This leads to either a positive belief system or a negative one which determines whether or not the person's thinking is rational or irrational

  The Consequence is developing depression due to negative emotional consequence that is due to irrational thinking about the activating event
• Give 2 strengths of cognitive theories as an explanation for depression

  • It takes into account life events that can contribute to developing depression. and accept it as a factor that may trigger someones depression. Is holistic as it takes in account both NATURE AND NURTURE
  • Has been applied to treatments such a CBT therapy as in CBT the therapist is able to chalenge the irrational thought mrocieses that the patients undergoes and is able to alter them for more positive ones to change the way thye think henceforth, change their behaviour and improve their symptoms
• What does CBT stand for?

  Cognitive behavioural therapy
• What are the 2 main aims of CBT

  • Help the patient change the way they think (cognitive)
  • Help the patient change the way they behave in response to events ( behavioural)