Genesis Of Depression Research Articles

Learned Helplessness, Attributional Style, and Depression in Epilepsy

We wished to examine the relevance of the theory of learned helplessness in general, and attributional style in particular, to the understanding of depression among patients with epilepsy. Patients with lateralized temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) (right = 73, left = 70) were administered two self-report depression inventories [Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale (CES-D)]. Depression scores were examined in relation to a key component of the revised theory of learned helplessness (attributional style) using the Optimism/Pessimism Scale. Attributional style was significantly associated with increased self-reported depression and remained significant when the effects of several confounding variables were controlled [age, age at onset, laterality of TLE, sex, and method variance]. The results indicate that the concept of learned helplessness in general, and attributional style in particular, are related to the genesis of depression in epilepsy. Because they are known to be related to depression in the general population, and because specific techniques for intervention and prevention are available, greater consideration of learned helplessness and attributional style in the genesis of depression in epilepsy may be worthwhile.

Stress, corticosteroids and the genesis of depression

Stress, corticosteroids and the genesis of depression

Marital adjustment and depression.

Twenty patients diagnosed major depression and 20 matched normal control subjects were compared in terms of marital adjustment and other related features. Marital adjustment reported by the depressed group was significantly worse than that of the normal group. Both groups, however, had adjustment scores above the cut-off point for maladjustment. These results question the causal role ascribed to marital maladjustment in the genesis of depression.

Dysphoric and depressive symptoms in chronic schizophrenia

This study suggests that depressive symptoms are less common in severe, chronic, schizophrenic inpatients than would be predicted if these symptoms were manifestations of negative symptoms or drug-induced parkinsonism. The findings further suggest that depressive symptoms in such patients are independent phenomena which conform to a depressive syndrome. This depression does not represent a misidentification of the negative symptoms affective flattening and alogia, as measured by the SANS, or parkinsonism or akathisia. The study findings fail to support the view that long-term depot antipsychotic medication plays an important role in the genesis of depression and dysphoria in chronic schizophrenic patients. Depressive symptoms were found to occur as frequently, and dysphoria more frequently, in schizophrenic patients in the year after drug withdrawal compared with patients continuing on maintenance drug treatment for the same period.

Psychiatric disorder in a rural and an urban population: 1. Aetiology of depression.

An earlier survey of a random sample of women in Camberwell in South London has shown that the majority of new occurrences of depressive disorders were brought about by certain kinds of life event and ongoing difficulty (provoking agent) and that the risk was increased under these circumstances by the presence of certain other social factors (vulnerability factors). Working- class women wer much more likely to develop depression because they experienced more of these factors. A new survey in a rural population in the Outer Hebrides has confirmed the importance of these factors in the genesis of depression, although provoking agents occurred much less frequently in this rural setting. However, integration into the traditional way of life, rather than a middle-class status, was related to a lower chance of developing depression, and this appears to be explained by the relationship of provoking agents and vulnerability factors to such integration in the Outer Hebrides, and to social class status in Camberwell.

Depression in the elderly. II. Possible drug etiologies; differential diagnostic criteria.

Drugs for the treatment of various medical or psychiatric disorders may sometimes cause or exacerbate depression in the elderly. Drug interactions due to polypharmacy (a common method of prescribing for aged patients) may also play a role the genesis of depression. The roles of specific drugs and of drug interactions are reviewed. Criteria for the diagnosis of depression in the elderly, as well as differential diagnostic guidelines, are presented and constructive suggestions offered.

Phenelzine ("nardil") in the treatment of endogenous depression.

“Let him take a course of chymistry, or a course of rope dancing or a course of anything he is inclined at the time.”(Boswell'sLife of Johnson) (1)To many minds there can be but little change in the treatment of depression since Johnson prescribed these remedies in 1776. Indeed the place of chemistry is now prominent, although its application is apparently more important to the patient than its study. It is believed that an enzyme, mono-amine oxidase, found in cerebral tissues, plays a part in the genesis of depression. Amphetamine inhibits the destruction of adrenaline by amine oxidase (McIlwain, 6) and amphetamine is of value in the treatment of mild depression (Guttmann and Sargant, 5). Another substance is 5-hydroxytryptamine, or serotonin, which is said to excite cerebral neurones briefly between its liberation and destruction; it is a cerebral vasoconstrictor and is destroyed rapidly by amine oxidase (McIlwain, 6). Iproniazid (Marsilid) is a drug which inhibits amine oxidase and has been used in the treatment of depression (West and Dally, 10). Its central actions are considered to be similar to those of 5-hydroxytryptamine. Recently, Chessin (3) has described yet another amine oxidase inhibitor, phenelzine, which is the study of this paper.