Psychological Explanation of Depression: Biological and Cognitive Perspective

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Biological and Cognitive Perspective of Depression
Evaluation of Biological and Cognitive Depression Theories
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Human feelings are life factors that influence one’s morale and excitement. Depression is a mood condition that causes a constant sensation of melancholy and a loss of interest in what one does. Depression is a dangerous disorder that can lead to suicidal thoughts if not treated early enough. According to Eysenck (2014), depression among young people has been identified as the primary cause of suicide events and low morale toward one’s life. People with the illness typically experience great melancholy, frustrations and furious outbursts, a lack of enjoyment, and decreased appetite. Furthermore, Eysenck (2014) identified worry, feelings of worthlessness, recurring thoughts of death, and unexplained physical ailments like back pain and headaches as signs of depression. Depression may be classified into several categories, and like with other diseases, the intensity of depression varies. Clinical depression is the most common type of depression affecting most individuals worldwide. Clinical depression is a devastating mental disease that includes anhedonia, defined by an individual’s inability to experience joy and suicidal thoughts (Simmons & Daw, 2018). When the symptoms that describe each are contrasted, dysthymia is regarded as a milder kind of depression than anhedonia. Other features of psychotic depression include hallucinations and delusions.

Depression has many symptoms, including excessive sleep, loss of appetite and joy, decreased initiative, and a sense of worthlessness. Other studies have discovered that shame, pervasive pessimism, physical discomfort, and difficulty concentrating are all symptoms of depression (Simmons & Daw, 2018; Eysenck, 2014). Depression interferes with one’s daily activities, pupils’ performance, relationships, and coping in life. As a result, knowing the numerous causes and perspectives of depression is essential to devising effective therapies and intervention approaches to minimize its severe effects on individuals. Therefore, this essay will compare the explanation of depression through the lens of biological and cognitive perspectives, pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of each and the theory that best explains the causes and concept of depression.

The body of this essay will explain the biological and cognitive perspective of depression, citing relevant literature to support the argument. In the discussion part, the paper will evaluate the two theories pointing out similarities, differences, strengths and weaknesses of each in terms of therapies and treatment. Finally, in conclusion, the essay will reinstate the theory that best explains the concept of depression, following the discussion of the chosen two perspectives.

Biological and Cognitive Perspective of Depression

There are controversies surrounding the causes and onset of depression. Several theories have been developed and published to help nurses and doctors understand the probable causes of depression and effective therapies and interventions to curb the increasing number of depressed people. The biology and the study of brain chemicals believe that the imbalance of brain chemicals causes depression (Quevedo et al., 2019). Human brain cells constitute neurotransmitters, the various compounds used by the brain to communicate with other brain parts and the central nervous system (Quevedo et al., 2019). According to Remes et al. (2021), the neurons in the brain constantly communicate, which is enhanced by neurotransmitters acting as brain messengers. Without neuron communications, it would be difficult for brain cells to perform their functions as usual. As such, the imbalance of these brain chemicals could be linked to depression affecting many people worldwide.

The monoamine hypothesis well explains the biological causes of depression. The hypothesis holds that depression is caused by deficiencies in the monoamine system’s transmission of serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine chemicals (Remes et al., 2021). Serotonin is a brain chemical that influences human mood and the tendency to feel pleasure. Therefore, a decreasing level of this chemical in the brain causes the onset of sadness and anger. According to Quevedo et al. (2019), the imbalance or lower secretion of serotonin would eventually lead to depression. Possible issues that could lead to lower serotonin levels or imbalances in the brain include reduced brain cell production and shortages of the type responsible for serotonin production. Recent studies have also found that the inability of serotonin to reach the receptors could also lead to lower serotonin levels in the brain, ultimately resulting in depression. Therefore, reduced serotonin levels in the human brain are believed to be the significant biological cause of depression.

The biological lens also believes that depression in human beings could result from abnormalities in the circadian rhythm. According to Remes et al. (2021), circadian rhythm is the physical, mental, and behavioral changes that occur on a 24-hour cycle. An example of such a rhythm includes rapid eye movement, sleep, and a dream time stage. This could be intense and swift and eventually land individuals into depression. Quevedo et al. (2019) state that rapid eye movement depends on serotonin and usually occurs when its secretion is at its lowest. It has also been found that serotonin is impaired with antidepressants, which increase serotonin levels in the brain stem. However, the serotonergic system is less active during sleep and is most active in wakefulness. As such, sleep deprivation activates serotonergic neurons, leading to the therapeutic effects of antidepressants.

Depression could also be caused by non-biological issues that emanate from maladaptive and irrational thinking. According to Eysenck and Keane (2020), negative attitudes toward one’s life are one cognitive issue that has left many people depressed. Depressed persons tend to view what negatively happens around them and do not see any potential or do not tend to create any positive imagination from what is happening to them. Eysenck and Keane (2020) believe that the Cognitive Triad, which includes such perceptions as being defective or inadequate, the experience of defeat or failure, and a hopeless future, are the main cognitive factors responsible for depression in the world. People with faulty thinking only recognize the negative experiences that happen in their lives and do not have the hope that situations could get better if they change their attitudes. They tend to overthink, leading to mental exhaustion and tiredness, which in the long run could lead to mental illness or an unsettled state of mind, depression.

Several theories strive to explain the cognitive causes of depression. For instance, Aaron Beck formulated a cognitive theory that explains how cognitions and life experiences could result in depression. Beck suggested that depression typically comes from frequent negative thoughts (Romanowska & Dobroczyński, 2020). He also noted that cognition is learned socially, especially when little children living in disadvantageous families watch their parents struggle to cope with their stresses. As a result, children could develop negative thoughts about their current life situation and worry most of the time concerning what the future could have for them. Intense worrying and concerns create sad moods and anxiety, eventually leading to depression. Moreover, Beck, in his theory explaining depression, holds that depression severity depends on negative thoughts that one could be having (Romanowska & Dobroczyński, 2020). This implies that people with more negative thoughts will have clinical depression that needs to be addressed to lessen the effects of depression.

Moreover, Beck outlined several non-biological causes or predictors of depression. Tomlinson and Slater (2017) identify parent and childhood traumas, anxiety, and disturbed family environment as predictors of depression. Other studies have also linked drug and substance abuse, lack of social support, and marital struggles to depression (Tomlinson & Slater, 2017). As Beck highlights, adverse early life experiences and exposures contribute to dysfunctional attitudes incorporated into one’s cognitive structures. Poverty is another factor that influences one attitude, and in most cases, people living in intense poverty tend to have negative feelings and thoughts. As mentioned earlier, negative thoughts are highly linked to depression. Another factor Beck outlined is disrupting a satisfying relationship (Romanowska & Dobroczyński, 2020). These could be instances of divorce, death, and misunderstandings. Moreover, disrupting a positive self or goal is another stressor that can lead to depression.

Evaluation of Biological and Cognitive Depression Theories

The biological perspective of depression, though, strives to explain depression causes; the theory leaves out many explanations concerning the brain chemicals that a non-specialist person cannot understand. According to Zimmermann and Papa (2019), the biological view of depression is simplistic and overused. Professionals will make people believe that everyone suffering from depression has a chemical imbalance in their brains, which is incorrect. Quevedo et al. (2019) view chemical imbalance as a term most pharmaceutical companies use to advertise antidepressants to make huge profits. Research has found that the brain chemical monoamine is consistently low in a person suffering from depression, resulting from the condition but not the cause of depression. Recent research has shown that monoamine depletion could cause depression symptoms in 60 percent of individuals already under depression interventions but will not cause symptoms in people with no history of depression (Zimmermann & Papa, 2019). This implies that monoamine is not responsible for depression but may only cause symptoms in people with a depression history.

Despite the many weaknesses described, biological explanations leverage research and experiments to uncover the relationship between brain chemicals and depression. Chakrapani et al. (2020) suggest that the biological perspective of depression is based on scientific approaches that involve experiments with measurable variables that can be repeated for reliability. Moreover, the theory is deterministic because it enhances the probability of scientific intervention to help people suffering from depression. Through a biological lens, it is possible to understand the predictors of behavior that other theories cannot explain. With the help of a biological understanding of depression, it has been possible to manufacture antidepressant drugs that inhibit monoamine oxidation, thus reducing depression symptoms.

Cognitive understanding of depression, as the theory holds, entails what is required for good mental health. According to Eysenck and Keane (2020), excellent mental health is responsible for rational thinking and allows individuals to feel happy and pain-free. On the other hand, the cognitive perspective of depression believes that irrational or negative thoughts cuss the condition that one is engulfed in. One notable strength of the cognitive explanation of depression is its application to therapies. According to Guest (2020), cognitive ideas about depression have been used to devise effective treatment and intervention methods for depression. For instance, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) are some treatment therapies developed following the cognitive explanation of depression (Guest, 2020). These cognitive therapies strive to identify and challenge negative, irrational thoughts a person could have and have been used to treat people affected by depression. Hence, it is essential to understand depression through the lens of cognition so that effective interventions can prevent or treat depression resulting from negative thoughts and pain.

However, the cognitive explanation of depression is biased because it does not explain why and where the irrational thoughts originate. Moreover, most research in this area is correlational (Guest, 2020). Therefore, through mental depression explanation, it is difficult to establish whether harmful, irrational thoughts could cause depression or if depression results in negative and irrational thoughts. With the uncertainty emerging from the cognitive explanation of depression, it is, therefore, possible that other factors, such as genes and neurotransmitters, the brain messengers, are responsible for depression, and negative or irrational thoughts are considered the side effects of depression.

Conclusion

Depression is a serious health concern affecting many people worldwide. as described in this essay, depression is a mood disorder that causes frequent feelings of sadness and pain. For that reason, research needs to be done to uncover the causes of depression so that appropriate therapies can be implemented to help lessen the effects of depression. Although little research has been developed to explain the causes of depression, this paper has explained the biological and cognitive causes of the condition. The biological theory holds that depression is majorly caused by the imbalance of brain chemicals, include serotonin, dopamine, and monoamine, which are neurotransmitters that the brain uses to communicate with other parts of the brain. On the other hand, the cognitive theory holds that depression is due to irrational thinking and the inability to have positive ideation. However, the biological explanation of depression is incomplete because professionals would say that all depressed persons have an imbalance of brain chemicals which is untrue. Thus, cognitive explanation, although it does not tell where the negative thinking comes from, has more explanation and concepts of depression.

References

Chakrapani, S., Eskander, N., De Los Santos, L. A., Omisore, B. A., & Mostafa, J. A. (2020). Neuroplasticity and the biological role of a brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the pathophysiology and management of depression. Cureus, 12(11). Web.

Eysenck, M. (2014). Fundamentals of Psychology. Psychology Press.

Eysenck, M. W., & Keane, M. T. (2020). Cognitive psychology: A student’s handbook (8th ed., pp. 1–948). Routledge.

Guest, J. (2020). The CBT Art Workbook for Coping with Depression (pp. 1–176). Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Quevedo, J., Carvalho, F., & Zarate, C. A. (2019). Neurobiology of depression: Road to novel therapeutics (pp. 1–471). Academic Press, an imprint of Elsevier.

Remes, O., Mendes, J. F., & Templeton, P. (2021). Biological, psychological, and social determinants of depression: A review of recent literature. Brain Sciences, 11(12), 1633. Web.

Romanowska, M., & Dobroczyński, B. (2020). Unconscious processes in Aaron Beck’s cognitive theory: Reconstruction and discussion. Theory & Psychology, 30(2), 223–242. Web.

Simmons, M., & Daw, P. (2018). Stress anxiety depression (1st ed., pp. 1–172). Routledge.

Tomlinson, G., & Slater, D. (2017). Depression: A cognitive approach (1st ed., pp. 1–183). Taylor and Francis. (Original work published 2003)

Zimmermann, M., & Papa, A. (2019). Causal explanations of depression and treatment credibility in adults with untreated depression: Examining attribution theory. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice. Web.

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