Biological Theory of Depression
Evidence that depression is related to genetics has been growing recently, as more and more research is being done to examine the role the brain and heredity play in the likelihood an individual will develop depression. For the first time in the early 1980s visible evidence of depression having a biological tie showed up in laboratory tests that examined the brain's functioning in depressives (Lowry, 1984). Studies showed that at least half of the depressives examined had increased levels of activity in the hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal axis of the brain (Lowry, 1984). Other medical evidence that supports the biological model of depression are the documentation of higher than normal amounts of cortisol discharges in the adrenal glands of depressives, and eccentric brain wave patterns as recorded by electroencephalograms (EEGs) (Lowry, 1984).
Research has also shown depression has a tendency to run in families. Most published research covers bipolar depression, but researchers have concluded there is reason to believe unipolar depression can be inherited and is thus a biological illness (Schwartz & Schwartz, 1993).
In twin studies done examining bipolar depression, researchers have found the likelihood to be 80 percent both twins will develop bipolar depression if at least one has it (Schwartz & Schwartz, 1993). Adoption studies done in research of affective disorders as a whole have shown there is a strong concordance rate of depression (Schwartz & Schwartz, 1993).
Criticisms of the biological model are it ignores environmental factors when looking at the relationship of depression in family studies, and the concordance rate in identical twin studies is not 100 percent. If depression can be inherited, critics argue, then both identical twins should inherit it (Schwartz & Schwartz, 1993). Proponents of the biological model, however, point out it is the predisposition of depression inherited, not the illness itself (Schwartz & Schwartz, 1993). Even identical twins don't experience the same life events.

http://www.holysmoke.org/sdhok/why-dep.htm

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Environmental Theory of Depression

Environmental causes of depression have to do with factors that don't involve us completely. These are not directly related to the brain, inherited traits from parents, medical illnesses, or anything else that is part of us as humans. Instead, environmental events are those that occur in our quotidian lives. These may include situations such as a lot of strees in school, at home, or at work, having to deal with the death of a loved one, or any traumatic event. Sometimes researchers refer to these as sociological or psychosocial factors since they bring together events that happen out in society with the inner workings of a person's mind.
It is within our understanding that experiences we have affect out state of mind. The human relations or interactions with others, how we are brought up, losses we have to deal with, and crises we encounter, all may affect out thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. How we react to these environmental events may influence the development of clinical depression.

http://www.allaboutdepression.com/cau_04.html

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Cognitive Theory of Depression
Cognitive behavioral theorists suggest that depression results from maladaptive, faulty, or irrational cognitions taking the form of distorted thoughts and judgments. Depressive cognitions can be learned socially or by observing. For example, when a student watch their teachers fail to successfully accept a stressful experience or a traumatic event. Also, depressive cognitions can result from a lack of experiences that would facilitate the development of adaptive coping skills.

According to the cognitive theory of depression, depressed people tend to think defferently than non-depressed people. Depressed people view themselves, their environment, and the future in a negative and pessimistic way. Non-depressed people are vey optimistic and view the world with a positive attitude.This difference in thinking is what makes them depressed. due to their pessimistic views, depressed people tend to misinterpret facts and blame themselves for anything that goes wrong, and tend to give credit to other people for things that turn out fine.

This negative thinking and judgment style functions as a negative bias; it makes it easy for depressed people to see situations as being much worse than they really are, and increases the risk that such people will develop depressive symptoms in response to stressful situations.

http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=13006&cn=5

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Manic Depression



This a video that explains the signs and symptoms of manic depression or bipolar disorder. If you think you are depressed, watch this video. Please watch it!! It is very interesting and helpful!!