A Critical Evaluation of Major Depression Research Paper

Abstract

Major depression, also known as unipolar depression or clinical depression, can be described as a common mental disorder that is characterized by mood swings, lack of interest in normally pleasurable activities such as sex, low self-esteem and feelings of guilt, abnormal sleeping and eating patterns, low drive, and poor concentration. This paper has actively shown how factors such as financial insecurity, job loss, income, and educational inequalities, lifestyle diseases, and breakdown of the social fabric have acted to propel the mental disorder by making use of theoretical frameworks such as the biopsychosocial model and the diathesis-stress model.

As revealed in the paper, major depression has far-reaching consequences if it is left untreated as it is capable of affecting an individual’s quality of life and productivity. Besides causing suicide, it has been blamed by the World Health Organization for being the foremost cause of disability in the world. This paper has revealed that major depression is caused by a multiplicity of factors that include psychological, psychosocial, genetic, biological endowment, and hereditary influences. However, many psychologists and medical personnel are in agreement that depression is largely a byproduct of chemical imbalance. In most major depression cases, the stress factors only act as a swing board to get the disorder running. Once it has developed its own momentum, it no longer requires the stress agents to take their toll on the affected individual

The paper has also mentioned some of the methods used in the treatment of major depression namely, electroconvulsive therapy, antidepressant drugs, interpersonal therapy, cognitive behavior therapies, psychodynamic therapy, and experimental therapies. The efficacy of some of these treatment therapies has been well discussed in the paper.

Introduction

The high rate of modernization and globalization experienced in societies the world over have opened yet another Pandora’s Box in the lives of unsuspecting individuals. Today, many individuals are taking cognizance of the immense challenges brought about by these two processes. While it is undeniable that these processes have brought many opportunities with them, psychologists and other medical experts are correlating them with the sudden increase of individuals exhibiting symptoms of stress and depression. A juxtaposition of factors such as financial insecurity, job loss, income, and educational inequalities, lifestyle diseases, breakdown of the social fabric, and, of course, genetic endowment, have been blamed for this increase (Tucker, 2003). Depression is a mental health disorder that, depending on severity, may require medical intervention to cure. This paper aims at critically evaluating major depression.

Body

Depression is known to range in intensity from placid interferences of normal mood to extreme disorders of maniac or hypomanic seizures. In the same vein, some types of depressions only last for a few hours while others can take years to manage. Depression has far-reaching consequences if it is left untreated. Its impact on an individual’s quality of life and productivity equals that of other critical ailments such as heart disease, and exceeds the burdens associated with other major diseases such as hypertension, asthma, and diabetes (Hollon, Thase, & Markowitz, 2002).

Major depression, also known as unipolar depression or clinical depression, can be described as a common mental disorder that is characterized by mood swings, lack of interest in normally pleasurable activities such as sex, low self-esteem and feelings of guilt, abnormal sleeping and eating patterns, low drive, and poor concentration (WHO, 2009). The condition is also known to affect a person’s relationship with his or her family, work, social life, concentration in school, and general health. According to Hollon, Thase, & Markowitz (2002), depression is one of the most widespread and devastating psychiatric disorders affecting individuals today. It is the foremost cause of disability in the world and can lead to suicide if left untreated. According to WHO estimates, depression affects around 121 million individuals worldwide and is responsible for about 850,000 suicide cases per year. Without proper treatment, over fifteen percent of individuals suffering from major depressive disorder end up committing suicide (Long, 1998). Previous studies have revealed that the disease mostly affects adults between the prime ages of 25 and 45. Nonetheless, the disorder has the potential to strike any individual at any age, and its episodes last from a few weeks to over nine months.

Many aspects relating to the nature and causes of major depression remain unknown today. However, many theories have evolved over the years to try and shed light on the causes. Generally, psychological, psycho-social, genetic, and hereditary factors have been fronted as possible causes of the mental disorder. Other factors such as evolutionary and biological endowments have also received wide acclamation (Kessler, Berglund, Demler, Jin, Koretz, Merikingas, Rush, Walters, & Wang, 2003). How these factors combine to bring about major depression still remains a matter of speculation. However, many psychologists and medical personnel are in agreement that depression is largely a byproduct of chemical imbalance, normally occasioned by irregular levels of the neurotransmitters known as norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine (“Depression,”2009). These neurotransmitters are critical in determining how different individuals experience normal events such as pleasure and moods.

Various models seeking to explain the causes of major depression have found their way into mainstream psychological books. Two of the most used models include the Biopsychosocial model and the Diathesis-stress model. The former posits that an avalanche of biological, psychological, and social influences combines in varying proportions to trigger the disorder (Nemade, Reis, & Dombeck, 2009). The latter model insinuates that major depression occurs when a pre-existing condition is further aggravated by stressful life experiences. Such pre-existing vulnerabilities may arise either from genetic factors entailing an interrelationship between nature and nurture, or schematic factors internalized from experiences learned in childhood.

Both of the above models can be used to show why some individuals are unable to cope with various stressors in life such as the death of a loved one, job layoffs, marriage difficulties, and adolescence. Surprisingly, the stress associated with such factors has been shown to play a leading role in the patient’s initial two occurrences of major depression, but not in later stages. Genetic endowment and temperament play a major role in replacing the stress-related factors in the later episodes of major depression (Nemade, Reis, & Dombeck, 2009). Put another way, in most major depression cases, the stress factors only act as a swing board to get the disorder running. Once it has developed its own momentum, it no longer requires the stress agents to take their toll on the affected individual. As such, it is imperative for any treatment strategy for major depression to take into consideration the multiplicity of factors that contributes to the disorder, other than relying on stress factors alone. The disorder is also thought to be triggered by some prescription drugs, drug and alcohol abuse, personality development, poverty, and social isolation (Zagata, 2009).

Other theorists believe that major depression may be caused by an over the engagement of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal alignment, better known as the HPA axis. Initial investigations have revealed that disturbances caused to the endocrine system by some stress factors such as job loss or bereavement have in turn triggered an increase of the hormone cortisol and the swelling of pituitary and adrenal glands. These multiplicities of actions have been linked to increased cases of psychiatric ailments, including major depression. Psychologists have linked the over secretion of this hormone from the hypothalamus to some of the cognitive behavior patterns and arousal symptoms associated with patients suffering from major depression (Vreeburg, Hoogendijk, Pelt, Derijk, Verhagen, Dyck, Smit, Zitman, & Penninx, 2009).

Psychologists have been able to tie up some of the symptoms of major depression, especially during the first two episodes. Some of the most prevalent symptoms that present themselves during the first two weeks of the disorder include mood swings that may include feelings of sadness, emptiness, and unprompted irritation; complete loss of pleasure to otherwise pleasurable and interesting activities; considerable weight loss of more than 5 percent of the total body weight in less than a month; reduced appetite and eating disorders such as anorexia; sleeplessness and restlessness; psychomotor disturbances or retardation; increased fatigue, disillusionment, and loss of energy; disheartening feelings of hollowness, worthlessness, and self-guilt; reduced concentration levels and indecisiveness; and recurrent thoughts of committing suicide (“Depressive Disorder,” 2009).

The above symptoms can be life-threatening if no proper care is taken towards the treatment and management of the mental disorder. According to Hollon, Thase, & Markowitz (2002), unipolar depression must be managed well since the chances of recurrence are extremely high. Also, major depression calls for special attention when it comes to treatment strategies as it affects quite a large number of people as opposed to bipolar depression. Indeed, Hollon, Thase and Markowitz argue that this type of disorder affects approximately 20 percent of women and 10 percent of men in the whole world. In sharp contrast, bipolar depression affects only about 4 percent of the total population globally. This, therefore, calls for a concerted and all-encompassing strategy to prevent major depression from causing untold suffering to the people.

Various types of treatment therapies have demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of major depression. Some of the well-known types include electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), use of antidepressant drugs, interpersonal therapy (IPT), and, ultimately, cognitive behavior therapies (Hollon, Thase, & Markowitz, 2002). Other traditional treatment techniques such as psychodynamic therapy and experimental psychotherapies have found wide usage among psychologists although they are yet to be sufficiently tested and evaluated. The bottom line is that no individual should go untreated since the mental disorder is fully treatable no matter the intensity or its phase of development.

Professional help is needed in the treatment of major depression to achieve the best results possible within the shortest timeframe. According to Long (1998), some treatment therapies such as antidepressant drugs and electroconvulsive therapy have worked extremely well in the treatment of major depression. Other preventative therapies such as lithium and anticonvulsant medications have also performed well. But while their efficacy is unparalleled in the treatment of this mental disorder, Hollon, Thase, & Markowitz (2002) argues that each case should be treated individually since these therapies may work extremely well for some people but not for others. Still, some of the therapies such as antidepressant medications may exhibit harmful side effects. Although psychotherapies used in the treatment of major depression have not been extensively tested, a number of the new approaches have exhibited extremely valuable benefits that have never been found in conventional medications.

Conclusion

All said and done, it has been proved that major depression is a mental disorder that requires serious attention due to its ability to swiftly disorganize the lives of its victims. What is enticing is that the disorder is fully treatable especially during its initial phases. But in the same vein, individuals should be on the lookout since the disorder is capable of causing major impairments in the social, economic, and vocational functioning of its victims (Long, 1998). The disease has on more than one occasion being linked to high suicide rates among the victims. It has been blacklisted by WHO for causing the highest number of disabilities in the whole world (WHO, 2009). As such, concerted efforts must be made by all stakeholders – patients, clinicians, psychologists – to nip the mental disorder in the bud before it unleashes its wrath on yet another unsuspecting victim.

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