Social and Cognitive Aspects of Major Depressive Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder

Disabling disorder causing emotional misery and disruption as well as Increased risk for physical illness and death

Depression

Disabling disorder linked to emotional and physical health.

Intrapsychic Disorder

Condition existing within the mind, affecting relationships.

MDD and Grief

Intense sadness following significant loss; may mimic MDD.

Twelve-month Prevalence Rate

Percentage of population experiencing depression in a year.

ECA Study

Epidemiological study showing 2.7% twelve-month prevalence.

NCS Study

National Comorbidity Survey showing 4.9% twelve-month prevalence.

NCS-R Study

Revised survey showing 6.6% twelve-month prevalence.

Sex Differences in Depression

Women have higher depression rates; 2:1 ratio.

Age Effects

Onset rates increase dramatically during adolescence.

Cohort Effects

Younger generations show higher depression rates than past.

Life Events

Sudden changes in environment linked to depression onset.

Severe Life Events

Events with long-term threat related to depression onset.

Additivity Effects

Summation of severe events increases depression risk.

Kindling

Early depression episodes increase risk of recurrence.

Stress Sensitization Model

Major events trigger first onset; less severe events recur.

Lewinsohn's Model

Depression results from low response-contingent reinforcement.

Coyne's Model

Stressful events lead to depressive symptoms and withdrawal.

Beck's Cognitive Theory

Depression arises from negative self-schema activation.

Cognitive Distortions

Negative thought patterns contributing to depressive feelings.

Learned Helplessness Theory

Expectations of helplessness lead to depressive behavior.

Negative Attribution Style

Internal, stable attributions for negative events increase vulnerability.

Evolutionary Models

Depression signals unproductive pursuits, conserving energy.

Depression Threshold

Experience depression only at functional times. Those with clinical depression may have too sensitive a depression threshold

Depressive Realism

Depressed individuals have lower self-opinions of themselves and their success which is a more accurate assessment. Depression tells us when to cut our losses

Historical Conceptions of Depression

Ancient records show early understandings of depressive conditions.

Hippocrates' Theory

Melancholia caused by excess black bile.

Araetus of Cappadocia

Characterized melancholia with sadness and suicidal tendencies.

Freud's Contribution

Associated psychological factors causally with depression.

Life Event Models

Kindling, Stress Sensitization Model, Additivity Effects

Behavioral Models

Lewinshon's Model

Interpersonal Models

Coyne's Model

Cognitive Models

Beck's Cognitive Theory of Depression and Cognitive Distortions

Beck's Cognitive Triad

Those with depression have dysfunctional schemas that lead to negative thoughts about the self, the world, and the future

Types of Cognitive Distortions

All-or-nothing thinking, selective abstraction, overgeneralization, emotional reasoning, personalization

All-or-nothing thinking

when situations are viewed in only two categories instead of on a continuum (ex: if I'm not a complete success I'm a failure)

Selective abstraction

when negative details are focused on without taking into account the entire context (ex: in conversing with a group of people, the depressed person may only notice the one person who yawned and not the others who appeared interested)

Overgeneralization

sweeping judgements or predictions based on a single incident (ex: "Because last night's date did not go well, all women find me unattractive.")

Emotional reasoning

one thinks something must be true because one feels it to be so (ex: "I feel ugly so I must look ugly")

Personalization

when the individual takes responsibility for the negative actions of others without considering more plausible explanations for their behaviors

Types of Evolutionary Models

Nesse's Theory, Depression Threshold, Depressive Realism, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Hagen's Model

What is Nesse's Theory about?

Depression is nature's way of signaling that we are pursuing the wrong goals and should redirect our efforts.

How does Nesse's Theory explain depression?

Depression prevents us from wasting energy on activities that are unlikely to benefit us and from taking unnecessary risks.

In what context is Nesse's Theory often observed?

Depressed individuals seeking therapy are frequently associated with Nesse's Theory.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?

Depression linked to seasonal changes, especially winter.

How did SAD potentially benefit our ancestors?

SAD may have kept our ancestors from wasting energy on activities that were less fruitful in the winter.

What did Hagen theorize about depression?

depression serves as a negotiating tool to extract more investment from others. Primarily concerning
post-partum depression