Psychology - Depression

• Unipolar depression

  Someone has been clinically diagnosed after a long period of low mood in combination with other symptoms like reduced energy, low self-confidence, and sleep disturbance
• Bipolar depression


  As well as having the symptoms of unipolar depression, there are periods of excessively high mood known as mania
• Sadness

  A normal human response to negative life events, temporary and unpleasant but people are able to continue to function
• International Classification of Diseases (ICD)

  • A medical tool listing symptoms that psychiatrists will match the patient's experience to
  • Published by the World Health Organization and updated to respond to changes in scientific knowledge
  • The current version is version 10
• Diagnosis of unipolar depression

  • Clinician will consider the number of symptoms the patient has had out of 10 over a period of time
  • At least one of the starred symptoms must be present
  • Fewer than 4 symptoms is not depressed, 4 is mild, 5-6 is moderate, 7 or more is severe
• Symptoms of unipolar depression

  • Low mood (behavioral and emotional aspects)
  • Reduction in energy levels
  • Change in sleep patterns
  • Change in appetite level
  • Decrease in self-confidence
  • Poor concentration
  • Guilt
  • Loss of pleasure
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Agitation
• Biological approach to depression

  Considers the physical causes such as brain structure, neurotransmitters, and hormones, influenced by genes or physical factors like diet and drug use
• Psychological approach to depression


  Suggests that faulty mental processing, such as the development of negative schemas and attributions, is the cause of depression
• Antidepressant medication

  • Alters the imbalance of neurotransmitters, often taking 1-2 weeks to be effective
  • Patients are typically on a course of antidepressants for at least 6 months
• SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)


  Select and inhibit the reuptake of serotonin, making it more effective in the synapse and improving mood
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Aims to change irrational thinking to rational thinking through a process of disputation (logical and empirical)
  • Also focuses on behavioral change through homework tasks and behavioral activation
• Research study on the effectiveness of CBT for treatment-resistant depression


  1. Participants were randomly assigned to either continue with antidepressants or continue antidepressants alongside a course of CBT

  2. After 6 months, 46% of the combined CBT and antidepressant group had responded to treatment (50% or greater reduction in BDI score), compared to only 22% in the antidepressant-only group

  3. Wiles concluded that a holistic approach including both CBT and drug therapy is the most effective way to help treatment-resistant patients