Psych Flashcard Day 2

Caspi et al.

- Aim: To explore how genetics and stressful life experiences together can lead to depression.

- Participants: The study followed individuals from birth into adulthood.

- Procedure: The focus was on variations in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT), observing how these genetic differences affect responses to stressful events.

- Results: People with shorter versions of the 5-HTT gene showed more depressive symptoms after stressful events than those with longer versions.

- Conclusion: This study suggests that both our genes and what happens in our lives play a part in the risk of getting depression, pointing out how important the combination of genes and environment is.

Kendler (2015)

- Aim: To determine how much of a role genetics play in depression by using a large twin study.

- Participants: 42,000 twins.

- Procedure: The study looked at depression rates among identical (monozygotic) and fraternal (dizygotic) twins to see how similar their experiences with depression were. Researchers used statistical methods to compare the rates of depression in twins raised together versus those raised apart, aiming to isolate the effects of the environment from genetics.

- Results: Identical twins had more similar experiences with depression than fraternal twins, indicating that genes have a strong influence. The study found that the heritability of depression—how much genetics contribute to the disease—is significant, suggesting that if one identical twin has depression, the other is much more likely to have it as well compared to fraternal twins.

- Conclusion: This research shows that genetics is a key factor in developing depression, emphasizing the power of inherited traits. It also underscores the role of genetic predisposition in the likelihood of developing depressive disorders, thus contributing to our understanding of the biological underpinnings of mental health issues.

MDD

Major Depressive Disorder

Biological Etiologies of MDD

Caspi et al and Kendler

Hoeksema (2000)

- Aim: Examine the impact of rumination on the development of depression over time.

- Participants: The study involved random phone interviews with a large sample of adults over several years.

- Procedure: Participants were regularly asked about their thought processes, particularly focusing on their tendency to ruminate—repeatedly thinking about feelings and problems without resolution.

- Results: The study found that individuals who engaged in high levels of rumination reported significantly higher levels of depression over time. The continual focus on negative thoughts seemed to exacerbate feelings of sadness and hopelessness.

- Conclusion: This study highlights how cognitive patterns, such as rumination, can contribute to the persistence and severity of depressive symptoms, underscoring the importance of addressing these cognitive styles in treatments for depression.

Joiner (1999)

- Aim: Explore the relationship between depressive attitudes and the prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder among college students.

- Participants: 119 university students.

- Procedure: Students were surveyed to assess their general attitudes towards life, specifically looking for signs of depressive thought patterns.

- Results: The findings indicated that students who displayed more depressive attitudes were significantly more likely to suffer from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

- Conclusion: This study suggests that having a depressive mindset or attitude can be a strong predictor of developing clinical depression, indicating that cognitive approaches might be beneficial in identifying and treating individuals at risk.

Cognitive Etiologies of MDD

Hoeksema (2000) and Joiner (1999)

Kessler

- Aim: Investigate gender differences in the prevalence and severity of depression.

- Participants: Large sample of adults participating in a national mental health survey.

- Procedure: Survey participants were assessed for a history of depression, including episodes of major depression in the past year and any instances of chronic or acute depression.

- Results: The study found that while women are more frequently diagnosed with depression than men, the severity of the disorder (such as the likelihood of having chronic depression or the recurrence of acute episodes within the past year) does not differ significantly between genders.

- Conclusion: This finding challenges assumptions about gender differences in the severity of depression, suggesting that while more women are diagnosed with MDD, it is not necessarily more severe in women compared to men.

Hostetter

- Aim: Examine the impact of substance use on depression prevalence among genders.

- Participants: Adult participants assessed for depression and alcohol use.

- Procedure: Researchers looked at the effects of removing alcohol consumption on depression rates among men and women.

- Results: When controlling for alcohol use, the differences in depression rates between men and women significantly diminished, indicating that external factors like substance use can affect the apparent prevalence of depression.

- Conclusion: The study suggests that lifestyle factors, such as alcohol use, can influence the prevalence of depression and may explain some of the observed differences in depression rates between genders.

Prevalence of MDD

Kessler and Hostetter

Brown and Harris (1978)

- Aim: Investigate the social and environmental factors that might contribute to depression among women.

- Participants: 458 British women.

- Procedure: Conducted detailed interviews with women about their daily lives, stress levels, and any protective or vulnerability factors such as social support, marital status, and employment.

- Results: Women with fewer protective factors, such as lack of a confiding relationship, and more vulnerability factors, such as recent life stresses or the loss of a mother in early life, were significantly more likely to develop depression.

- Conclusion: This study emphasizes the importance of social and environmental factors in the development of depression, showing that lack of social support and adverse life events can significantly increase the risk of MDD.

Whitehall

- Aim: Examine the link between employment grade and mental health among British civil servants.

- Participants: 17,000 government employees.

- Procedure: Participants were surveyed about their job grade, work environment, control at work, social support, and instances of depression or poor mental health.

- Results: Employees in lower-grade positions, who reported less control over their work and lower social support, showed a higher incidence of MDD and earlier mortality.

- Conclusion: Indicates a strong relationship between job stress, lack of control, and mental health, suggesting that lower social and occupational status can contribute to the development and severity of depression.

Sociocultural etiologies of MDD

Brown and Harris (1978) and Whitehall