Psychological problems

What is Unipolar deppression?

A type of mood disorder causing periods of feeling sad and lacking motivation to do everyday tasks.

Name three main Symptoms of deppression:

Lowering mood, lack of energy even after resting for a long time and lack of motivation to do things (There are many more.)

What are Monozygotic twins?

Share 100% of their genes as they come from the same egg.

What are Dizygotic twins?

Only share 50% of their genes, same level of genetic similaity that exists between any non-twin siblings.

Name one bit of Research that support genes plays a role in deppression

Study by McGuffin et al (1996) found that if one MZ twin become depressed, there was a 46% chance that their co-twin would also devleop deppression. DZ twins only 20% chance of the other twin developing deppression.

What were the findings of Caspi et al (2003)

• two short alleles in the 5HTTPR gene reported more depression symptoms in response to stressful life events than either of the other two groups. ​

• participants with two short alleles in the 5HTTPR gene were more likely to be diagnosed with depression. ​

What does the cognitive explaination suggests about deppression?

Deppression may be causd how people think about their reality where that realibty may be.

What does Beck’s theory suggest about deppression?

Negative thought pattens about the world, the self and the future

Name one strength and one weakness of Cognitve theory:

Strength: Has practical applications which led to the development of CBT, effective in treating deppression helping individual challenge negative thoughts, suggesting the theory has real world benefits and applications.


Weakness: The theory is quite reductionist due to ignoring biological facotrs, such as the role of neurotransmitter (e.g. Low serotoin levels) in deppression. This means it may be a incomplete explanation, as genetics play a big factor contributing to deppression.

How to Anti-depressants work?

By increasing the levels of the neurotransmitters such as setotonin and noradrenaline (helping boost moods)

After a neurotransmitter has communicated it’s messga eo the neuron, messages needs to be prevented from being constantly communicated. Neuron reabsorbs the neutrotransmittter it released.

Stopping this process increases the levels of sertonin which contributes to the reduced affects of deppression

How to SSRIs work?

By preventing the reuptake of neurotransmitters and increasing serotoin levels in the brain.

Name one strength of Drug therapy:

Effective in reducing symptoms of deppression for many people. Help improve, mood, increase energy levels and reduce sucidal thoughts helping people who are diagnosed with deppression function and able to carry out their daily life.

Name one weakness of Drug theapy:

Serve side effects such as nasure. weight gain or insomia. Does not treat the underlying cause of deppression such as difficult life circumstances.

What does CBT stand for and what does it do?

Cognitve behavioural therapy (CBT) is a form of talk therapy which aims to change irrational thought to rational thought in treating people with a wide range of mental health problems.

One stength

Strength: Back up with loads of reserachers shown to be effective in treaming a wide range of mental health problems and uses practical stratergies helping individuals identify and change negative thought pattens which has proved to work for many people

Name another strength of CBT

CBT is usally short term treament lasting only a few months compared to most talking therapy lasting longer making it more time-effiecent and cost effective therapy benefiting the therapists and the individual.

Name two weaknesses of CBT:

Requires patient engagement and may not be suitable for everyone