Biological depression definition

Can genetics cause depression? What is evolutionary depression? Great progress has been made in the understanding of brain function, the influence of neurotransmitters and hormones, and other biological processes, as well as how they may relate to the development of depression. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression , it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have heard that depression is the result of a simple imbalance of brain chemicals.

Although brain chemicals are certainly part of the cause, this explanation is too simple.

Even just considering the biological dimension of depression , the brain has multiple layers of issues that are involved. There are several biological explanations of depression but today we will discuss in particular. But before we dive into the explanations, what exactly is meant by biological explanation of depression ? Sometimes people say they think they were born with depression or have always felt sad since they were young. For example, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep—the stage in which dreaming occurs—may be quick to arrive and intense in depressed people.

And one in six people (1 ) will experience depression at some time in their life. Women are more likely than men to experience depression. While the exact cause of depression is unknown, it has been suggested that a combination of biological factors and environmental stressors contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder 2. Race and gender biases, for example.

Situational depression is vastly different from biological depression. With biological depression , you would be trapped in a state of depression regardless if whether or not you were living in a mansion with no worries or if you had every worry in the world. Current research suggests that depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological , environmental, and psychological factors.

The document has moved here. It is often identified with a specific symptom complex—psychomotor retardation, early morning awakening, weight loss, excessive guilt, and lack of reactivity to the environment—that. WebMD explains what research has discovered about the causes of depression - from genetics to illnesses and medications to major life events.

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the U. No biological tests confirm major depression. Biomarkers of depression have been sought to provide an objective method of diagnosis. Learn more about the causes, symptoms, types, and treatments for depression.

Yet, depression is a highly treatable illness, with psychotherapy, coping and cognitive-behavioral techniques, and medication. Some researchers question whether the standard definition of depression and the diagnostic tests based upon it adequately capture the condition as it occurs in men. It is the only approach in psychology that examines thoughts, feelings, and behaviors from a biological and thus physical point of view. Therefore, all that is psychological is first physiological. Free biology and life science resources at your fingertips.

An abstract is unavailable. This article is available as a PDF only. In many cases, however, the depression is an independent problem, which means that in order to be successful, treatment must address depression directly.

Sometimes, symptoms of depression or mania are a side effect of certain drugs, such as steroids or blood pressure medication. However, Freud also argued that some cases of depression could be linked to loss or rejection by a parent. Biological disorders that are typically brought about by outside factors include insomnia or depression brought on by stress, and delirium due to drug overdose. Other biological disorders are commonly associated with genetic disposition, meaning that a person has a natural predisposition at birth.

A common biological view of depression is the monoamine hypothesis.