Depression Paper

Depression Paper

Depression Paper

Psychology 270

University of Phoenix at Axia College

December 16, 2010

Depression Paper

      Unipolar depression and bipolar disorder are both mood disorders.   These mood disorders can affect

any individual's life and are conditions determined by specific mood disturbances.   Unipolar or

depressive disorders are usually diagnosed by issues of depression minus any history of manic

episodes.   Bipolar disorders are recognized by the presence or history of manic episodes along with

major depressive episodes (DeLuca, 2009).

      Although both unipolar and bipolar disorders involve bouts of depression.   The underlying causes

for these afflictions include several factors.   Unipolar depression is described as a mood disorder that

rarely involves mania but allows the individual to often return as close to normal as possible when the

depression subsides.   According to the sources, the cause of this disorder can be linked to qualities like

other psychological factors, stressful events, and biochemical conditions.   Biological aspects such as

family pedigree and predispositions are also important when considering the cause of these abnormal

behaviors.   A decrease in the chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine activity along with transmitters

in the brain account for a portion of linkage to unipolar depression.   Beyond these genetic and

biochemical factors, it is suggested that several psychological models apply to this form of depression

including behavioral, psychodynamic, and cognitive models.   Thus each explanation has various

reasons to agree with the theory, there are factors that force individuals to be uncertain of the

cause (Comer, 2005).

      Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that carries both the highs along with the lows of depression.

  The shift from one extreme to the other has an emotional effect on their moods.   Consequently, the

over-activity of the same...