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Biological Explanations Of Major Depression

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In this paper I will discuss the difference in theories of the psychological and biological explanations of major depression. Psychological explanations refer to the cognitive and behavioral theories of major depression such as negative cognitions, learned helplessness, and hopelessness. While biological explanations refer to genetic and neurochemical factors to explain the development and maintenance of major depression (Davey, 2011).
Major depression, also commonly referred to as clinical depression, major depressive illness, major affective disorder, or unipolar mood disorder, is a clinical mood disorder including one or more episode of serious depression lasting two or more weeks with no manic episodes. Symptoms include fatigue, impaired …show more content…
The first biological theory of major depression is related to genetic factors. This is a belief that mood disorders such as major depression run in families, implying that there is an inherited or genetic element to depression. That being said, your chances of developing major depression are five to ten times more likely if you are related to someone who has major depression. In twin studies, monozygotic (identical) twins were forty six percent more likely to develop major depression if one twin had it compared to dizygotic (fraternal) twins who were twenty percent more likely to develop major depression (Davey, 2011). According to Sutton (2012), it is known that a biologically hereditary tendency to develop major depression is linked to a younger age of depression onset, and that new onset depression taking place after age sixty is less likely to be due to a genetic …show more content…
Major depression is linked to low levels of serotonin and norepinephrine unlike bipolar disorder which is linked to high levels of norepinephrine. During the 1950s it was discovered that medications that resulted in lowering serotonin levels, such as blood pressure medicine, were causing depression (Davey, 2011). Serotonin controls several functions such as sleep, aggression, eating, sexual behavior, and mood. Therefore, as research suggests a lower level of serotonin production can cause several of the symptoms of major depression. Norepinephrine play a role in an individual’s mood and ability to concentrate. Therefore a low level of norepinephrine may lead to major depression in that low levels can make you feel fatigues and in a state of mental fog (Davey, 2011). Another neurotransmitter that plays a role in major depression is dopamine. It is believed that dopamine levels help in regulating our ability to feel pleasure and our ambition for rewards. This explains why people with depression have trouble finding pleasure in activities they once enjoyed (Nemade,

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