Psychology of Stress and Depression

Anxiety Disorders

• Normal experiences of fear, anxiety, and worry can become problematic when exaggerated.
• Anxiety disorders are marked by intense feelings of apprehension and fear, disrupting daily life.
• Responses to fear and anxiety utilize the "fight or flight" system, acting in real or perceived danger.

Symptoms of Anxiety

• Individuals may feel monitored or judged leading to significant distress in social situations.
• A desire for help often exists alongside fear of judgment from others.

Biopsychosocial Model

• Comprises biological, psychological, and social factors affecting mental health.
• Treatment approaches include medications, therapy (e.g., CBT), and social support.

Symptoms of Schizophrenia

• Positive symptoms: include hypersensitivity, auditory/visual hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions.
• Negative symptoms: affect one-third of patients, causing loss of normal mental function, emotions, and motivation.

Causes of Schizophrenia

• Contributing factors: genetic predisposition, environmental triggers, birth defects, and dopamine level imbalances.

Depression

• Described as persistent sadness leading to emotional and cognitive difficulties.
• Historical concept of melancholia linked to the somber secretion of "black bile" by Hippocrates.

Risk Factors for Depression

• Family history of psychiatric disorders, loss of a parent, childhood abuse, substance use, workplace stress, and life events can all increase susceptibility.
• Specific life stages (puberty, pregnancy) can heighten risk for women.

Features of Depression

• Core symptoms include low self-esteem, pervasive negative outlook, fatigue, and loss of interest.
• Additional symptoms: sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, difficulty concentrating, and suicidal thoughts or self-harm.

Diagnostic Criteria

• Dysthymia: Mild, persistent depressive symptoms.
• Depressive disorder: More numerous and severe symptoms leading to significant impairment.
• Severe depression may include psychotic features like delusions and hallucinations.

Stress and Mood

• Stress activates the HPA axis, increasing glucocorticoids, which can impact monoaminergic systems.
• Individual responses to stress vary widely; not all stressed individuals develop depression.

Antidepressants and Mood Disorders

• Monoamine hypothesis suggests low monoamine levels cause depression; antidepressants aim to restore these levels.
• Network hypothesis proposes that issues in neuronal communication may contribute to depression.

Treatment Approaches

• Mild depression often treated with cognitive psychotherapy.
• Severe cases may require drug therapy, possibly alongside psychotherapy.
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) reserved for severe or prolonged depression.

Controversial Ideas in Antidepressant Efficacy

• Questions exist regarding the effectiveness of antidepressants versus placebo effects.
• Studies show antidepressants offer limited advantages over placebos, challenging traditional beliefs in their efficacy.
• Highlighting the need for alternative treatment methods beyond medication.

Explore the intricate connections between glucocorticoids, stress responses, and depression in this enlightening quiz. Delve into critical concepts such as the HPA axis activation, the monoamine hypothesis, and the Network Hypothesis of Depression. Test your understanding of how these factors interplay in mood disorders.