Biological psychology and depression
How do biological genes affect depression?
The takeaway.
Many researchers believe there's no single gene that puts someone at risk for depression.
It's more likely a combination of genes that lead to the disorder.
The causes of bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders may also be traced to a combination of genetic factors..
Is depression a biological based?
That is the case for major depression.
Heritability is probably 40-50%, and might be higher for severe depression.
This could mean that in most cases of depression, around 50% of the cause is genetic, and around 50% is unrelated to genes (psychological or physical factors)..
- But no single gene has been found that causes depression or anxiety.
So it's hard to explain how either of these conditions are passed down through genes.
Combinations of different genes from your parents may affect whether you're likely to get anxiety or depression. - The adrenal hormone cortisol, commonly considered a stress hormone, tends to be elevated in depressed people.
Moreover, the cortisol regulation system, as assessed by the dexamethasone suppression test (DST), is impaired in many depressed patients. - Thus, the "biogenic amine hypothesis of depression" postulates that depression is due to a reduced functional activity of one or more brain amines.
The tricyclics appear to be antidepressants due to their inhibition of the neuronal reuptake of NA in the brain.
A wide range of determinants of mental health have been identified in the literature: age, gender, ethnicity, family upbringing and early IntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussion
How does biological psychology explain depression?
Therefore, the biological perspective explains depression as it relates to the functions of the brain.
There are roughly ten million cells, called neurons, In your brain and each neuron connects to another neuron.
When the connection is made, it is in the form of an electrical impulse which travels down the connections between neurons.
Is Depression Physical Or Mental?
The apparent dichotomy between "physical" and "mental" illnesses taps into one of the deepest conceptual fault lines in psychiatry and psychology, which is the spurious division between "physical" and "mental" phenomena.
Depressionis a perfect example of this.
Described aloud, depression sounds like a very psychological phenomenon: low mood, guilt,.
What are the biological reasons for depression?
Research suggests that depression doesn't spring from simply having too much or too little of certain brain chemicals.
Rather, there are many possible causes of depression, including:
faulty mood regulation by the brain genetic vulnerability and stressful life events.
It's believed that several of these forces interact to bring on depression. What are the biological symptoms of depression?
In most cases, depression involves the interaction of biological and psychosocial factors.
The impact of biological factors seems to be more prominent in major depressive syndrome, where typical symptoms and signs such as:
decrease in weight changes in libido dysmenorrhea and sleeping disorders cannot be explained on psychodynamic grounds alone.
Some of the symptoms and signs typical of patients suffering from depression reflect a primary disorder of biochemical and neurophysiological .. What are the biological theories of depression?
Several theories concerning the biologically based cause of depression have been suggested over the years, including:
theories revolving around monoamine neurotransmitters neuroplasticity neurogenesis inflammation and the circadian rhythm. What Happens Biologically When People Get Depressed
From a biological perspective, it is possible that these effects are mediated through the body’s stress response mechanism, especially the hormone cortisol, which can be constantly "switched on" by chronic stress.
This damages virtually all body organs, including the brain.
It is also clear that the activity of certain brain chemicals (serotonin, n.
Culture defines how people view the world and certain phenomena.
Culture also appears to influence the way people experience depression.
An individual's experience with depression can vary from country to country.
For example, a qualitative study revealed that some countries did not recognize post-natal depression as an illness; rather, it was viewed as a state of unhappiness that did not require any health interventions.
Culture defines how people view the world and certain phenomena.
Culture also appears to influence the way people experience depression.
An individual's experience with depression can vary from country to country.
For example, a qualitative study revealed that some countries did not recognize post-natal depression as an illness; rather, it was viewed as a state of unhappiness that did not require any health interventions.
