abnormal theories

affective disorders

category of psychological disorders characterised by a dramatic change in mood, also known as mood disorders

major depressive disorder

an affective disorder, which lowers mood and deeply saddens those that have the disorder, causing suicidal ideation and a lack of motivation. A diagnosis is when an individual experiences two weeks of either a depressed mood, or a loss in interest and pleasure

biological explanation for mdd

genetic predisposition can partly explain depression where there is a hereditary link through generations of mdd being passed down

cognitive explanation

aim to understand why some people are more vulnerable to depression when met with negative events where others only experience acute stress

Beck’s cognitive triad

This approach proposes that depression stems from negative views on oneself, the world, and the future. Furthermore, these views create negative schemas that foster faulty and unhelpful ways of thinking that contribute to the onset of MDD

sociocultural perspective

role that environmental factors play in mental help

vulnerability model

when risk factors outnumber protective factors, an individual is more likely to develop depression

risk factors

factors increase the risk of depression in combination with particularly stressful life events

risk factors examples

• death of family/friends

• poverty

• abuse

• divorce

protective factors

factors decrease the risk of depression in combination with particularly stressful life events

protective factors examples

• family

• access to support

• education

• education on depression

prevalence def

refers to the total number of cases of MDD in a particular population, at a certain time

dynamic nature of prevalence

they are not universal and thus cannot be completely relied upon, as they are constantly changing and prone to biases in diagnosis and reporting

prevalence of MDD

 WHO (2017) estimates around the world more than 300 million people suffer from depression

gender variations in prevalence

• women have higher rates of MDD diagnosis

• In 2015 USA survey average twelve month prevalence was found to be 6.7% with women at 8.5% and men at 4.7%.

• Risk for women has been consistently found to be roughly twice as much as for men