05/02/2020 7 Depression Research Paper Topic Ideas

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7 Depression Research Paper Topic Ideas

By Nancy Schimelpfening Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 04, 2020

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Depression is a common topic for research papers in psychology classes. It's a very complex subject and one that o ers
many possible topics to focus on, which may leave you wondering where to begin. If you are writing a paper on
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depression,
cookies. the following are some topics which you may want to consider.

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05/02/2020 7 Depression Research Paper Topic Ideas

Topic Ideas for a Research Paper on Depression

These suggestions can lead you to ideas for more in-depth topics which you can research further in the library and
online.

What Is Depression?
Everyone experiences times when they feel a little bit blue or sad. This is a normal part of being human. Depression,
however, is a medical condition which is quite di erent from everyday moodiness. Your paper may explore the basics
or delve deeper into the de nition of clinical depression or the di erence between clinical depression and sadness.

What Types of Depression Are There?

There are several di erent types of depression that are dependent on how an individual's depression symptoms
manifest themselves. Depression symptoms may vary in severity or in what is causing them. For instance, major
depressive disorder (MDD) may have no known cause or one that's identi able in an individual, while postpartum
depression is speci cally linked to women and childbirth.

The symptoms may also be part of an illness called bipolar disorder. This includes uctuations between depression and
a state of extreme elation called mania. It is a topic that o ers many opportunities on its own, from the de nition and
cause, to the risks, symptoms, and treatment.

What Causes Depression?

The possible causes of depression are many and not yet well understood. However, it is most likely that depression
results from an interplay of genetic vulnerability and environmental factors. Your paper could explore one or more of
these causes and reference the latest research on the topic.

For instance, how does an imbalance in brain chemistry or poor nutrition relate to depression? Is there a relationship
between the stressful, busier lives of today's society and the rise of depression? How can grief or a major medical
condition lead to overwhelming sadness and depression?

Who Is at Risk for Depression?

Certain risk factors may make a person more prone to developing depression, such as a family history of depression,
adverse childhood experiences, stress, illness, and gender. This is not a complete list of all risk factors, however, it's a
good place to start.

The growing rate of depression in children, teenagers, and young adults is an interesting subtopic you can focus on as
well. Whether you dive into the reasons behind the increase or the treatment options that are safe for young people,
there is a lot of research available in this area and many unanswered questions to consider.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Depression?

The signs of depression are those outward manifestations of the illness that a doctor can observe when she examines a
patient. For example, a lack of emotional responsiveness is a visible sign. On the other hand, symptoms are those
subjective things about the illness that only the patient can observe, such as feelings of guilt or sadness.

An illness such as depression is often invisible to the outside observer. That is why it is very important for patients to
make an accurate accounting of all of their symptoms so their doctor can diagnose them properly. You may explore
these symptoms of depression in adults or how depression symptoms can be di erent in children.

How Is Depression Diagnosed?

In some ways, the diagnosis of depression is more of an art than a science. Doctors must generally rely upon the
patient's set of symptoms and what they can observe about him during their examination in order to make a diagnosis. 

While there are certain laboratory tests which can be performed to rule out other medical illnesses as a cause of
depression, there is not yet a de nitive test for depression itself.

If you'd like to pursue this topic, you may want to start with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM). DSM-5 is the latest edition and it o ers a very detailed explanation that guides doctors to a diagnosis. The
current model can also be compared to historical methods of diagnosis and how this has improved the way depression
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How Is Depression Treated?

The rst choice for depression treatment is generally an antidepressant medication. Selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most popular choice because they can be quite e ective and tend to have fewer side e ects
than some older antidepressants.

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is another e ective and common choice. It is especially e cacious when combined
with antidepressant therapy. Certain other treatments, such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or vagus nerve
stimulation (VNS), are most commonly used for patients who do not respond to the other two. Exploring these
treatments can be a good topic for your paper.

A Word From Verywell

The topic of depression really can take you down many di erent roads. When making your nal decision on which to
pursue for your paper, it's often helpful to begin listing a few areas that pique your interest. From there, consider doing
a little preliminary research. You may come across something that grabs your attention like a new study, a
controversial topic you didn't know about, or something that hits a personal note.

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