Psychological problems

• What is unipolar depression

  A type of mood disorder causing periods of sadness and lacking motivation to do everyday activities
• Different between bipolar and unipolar depression

  Unipolar depression has someone feeling sad all the time. Bipolar depression has mood swings from very low to very high
• What is unipolar depression also known as in the ICD-10

  Depressive episodes
• What are mental health problems

  A form of psychological problem characterised by symptoms affecting your mind and behaviour
• Symptoms of unipolar depression

  • Not enjoying activities they used to like doing
  • Poor sleep
  • Extreme tiredness not relieved by sleep
  • Poor appetite or increased appetite
  • Lack of self-esteem
  • Feelings of guilt or blaming themselves for problems
  • Acting nervously
  • Feeling suicidal or attempting suicide
• What are the main symptoms of unipolar depression

  • Lowering of mood - feeling sad
  • Lack of energy even with sleep
  • Lack of motivation to do things
• What are the ICD-10 requirements to be diagnosed with unipolar depression

  At least one main symptom present most times at most days for 2 weeks and another symptom present
• Describe features and symptoms of mild unipolar depression

  • Four symptoms displayed
  • Finds symptoms upsetting but are able to carry on with everyday activities
• Describe features and symptoms of moderate unipolar depression

  • 5 or 6 symptoms displayed
  • May have serious problems at everyday activities
• Describe features and symptoms of severe unipolar depression


  • Seven or more symptoms and feelings of worthlessness
  • May have suicidal thoughts and engage in self-harm
• Episodes of serious depression affect 1 in 15 people per year.
• Unipolar depression affects twice as many women than men and women are affected for longer than men
• What did Martin Seligman (1998) find

  People in the 1980s were 10 times more likely to be diagnosed with depression than in the 1940s
• What did the King's Fund report about depression statistics

  Estimates that 1.45 million people will be diagnosed with depression by 2026 compared to the 1.24 million people in 2007
• What are possible reasons for why more people are being diagnosed with depression


  • More people know about the symptoms of depression
  • Brandon Hidaka (2012) suggested 'modern living' is more stressful and includes factors such as poor diet and social isolation
• Which age group has increased depression diagnosis


  Teens and young adults. Jean Twenge (2010) found young adults in 2007 were more likely to be diagnosed with psychological problems than in 1938. This suggests modern life is stressful for this age group.
• How does depression affect individuals


  Increased risk of suicide as people need a 'way out' from feelings of worthlessness. Suggested that 10-15% of people with severe depression will commit suicide.
• How does depression affects society

  • Missing work: In 2014-15, 9.9 million days of work were missed because of stress and depression. Depression causes lack of motivation and energy. Falling behind at work can increase feelings of guilt. Companies will have a cost implication to cover workload.
  • Cost of treatment: Medication and therapy can be prescribed but it is expensive and professionals need to be made available. 2007 NHS estimates £1.7 billion was lost treating depression
• There is evidence that if one person from your family is diagnosed with depression, there is a higher risk you will be diagnosed, indicating a gene is present for depression.
• What are twin studies

  Research that compares behaviour in groups of twins to see if there are similarities in each pair of twins.
• Describe monozygotic and dizygotic twins

  Monozygotic twins share 100% of their DNA and are genetically identical. Dizygotic twins are fraternal twins and share 50% of their DNA.
• What did Peter McGuffin (1996)

  46% chance of a twin being diagnosed with depression if their co-twin was diagnosed too. But, there was only a 20% chance of both twins developing depression. This can indicate genes explain depression because twins carrying more of the same genes were at higher risk for depression.
• What does genetic predisposition mean

  A biological tendency to develop a particular behaviour as a result of the genes someone has
• What is the diathesis-stress model


  An explanation for depression that claims people can have a gene that makes them more likely to develop depression but only if they face a stressful situation that triggers depressive thoughts
• Why don't all family members who are related to someone with depression become depressed


  They need a trigger from the environment for the depression gene to be 'active'. They need genetic predisposition and a stressful situation. This combination is the diathesis-stress model.
• Strengths and weaknesses of genetic explanations for depression

  Strengths:

  • Less stigma: If depression is attributed to a gene, there will be less stigma and society will be more accepting
  • Research evidence: Caspi (2003) found people with variations of serotonin transporter genes were more likely to develop depression after a stressful life event

  Weaknesses:

  • Deterministic: Assumes if you have the gene, you will be depressed but some argue we have more free will
  • Reductionist: Fails to look at other factors that can cause depression like life events. Too simplistic
• What does deterministic mean

  Our actions come from what we are born with and what we experience (opposite of having free will)
• What does free will mean

  Explanations of behaviour that claim we have the ability to choose what type of behaviour we want to show (opposite of deterministic)
• What does cognitive theory mean

  An explanation that focuses on how thought processes influence behaviour
• What are the 3 parts of Beck's cognitive triad


  Negative view of the self, negative view of the world, negative view of the future
• What are negative cognitive biases

  Things are viewed negatively and the person cannot see the positive of the situation they are in
• What is a negative triad

  A set of 3 thought patterns where people fell bad about themselves, the future and the world in general
• What did Beck think cognitive triads came from

  Bad experiences in the past
• What is magnification

  A form of cognitive bias that makes people see their problems as far bigger than they actually are
• How does Beck's cognitive triad lead to negative self-view

  They have a negative way of thinking and they perceive the things that happen to them in an abnormal way. The person's self-schema becomes negative and their belief system is negative.
• What are the 3 parts of Ellis' ABC model

  Activating event, beliefs, consequences
• What is an activating event in Ellis' ABC model

  Something bad happens to the person which makes them feel unsettled
• What is a belief in Ellis' ABC model

  The thoughts associated with the event like why it happened
• What is a consequence in Ellis' ABC model

  If the person has a rational thought about the event, it will be a rational belief if it is true, which leads to a positive emotional consequence (not being depressed).

  If the person has an irrational thought, they will have a negative emotional consequence.
• Strengths and weaknesses of cognitive theory as an explanation for depression

  Strengths:

  • Takes life events into account: Looks at the combination of nature and nurture factors
  • Practical application: Can be used as therapy in the form of CBT

  Weaknesses:

  • Unclear: Difficult to know if irrational thoughts are a symptom of depression or a result of being depressed
  • Nature: Some cases of depression are not as easily explained by thought processes (eg. postpartum depression may be because hormones)