DEPRESSION

Introduction:

 Depression is characterised by loss of pleasure, sleep and appetite disturbances, feelings of

worthlessness and excessive guilt, fatigue, diminished ability to concentrate and suicidal
thoughts.
 The different models of abnormal psychology namely medical, psychodynamic, cognitive and
behavioural trace the onset of depression to various different causes.

Middle:

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 Medical model traces the onset of depression to low level of serotonin, over activity of
hypothalamic- pituitary adrenocortical(HPA) axis and genetic causes.
 Research conducted by Goodwin and Murphy 1962 supports the relation between low serotonin
levels and depression.
 Treatments suggested by the medical model include tricyclic antidepressants like Trofanil and
Elavil, MAO inhibitors and SSRI’s like Prozac.

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 In contrast, psychodynamic model provides a different explanation.

 Freud theorized that depression is caused by repressed unconscious conflicts (Mourning and
Melancholia)
 Treatments based on psychodynamic model include psychoanalysis, dream analysis etc.

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 Cognitive model traces depression to errors in thinking, irrational assumptions and negative
views.
 Temple Winsconsin study of cognitive vulnerability to depression showed that 17% of the high
risk students developed depression. (Barlow and Durand 1999)
 Therapies provided by the cognitive model include cognitive therapy and rational emotive
therapy.

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 Lastly the behavioural model explains depression in terms of lack of social support.
 Therapies suggested include interpersonal psychotherapy and family therapy.

Conclusion:

 Thus each model of abnormality provides its own set of assumptions and suggests suitable
treatment for depression.
 The cause identified for depression can guide as to which treatment is to be followed.