Imagine that you have just been notified by your bank that your checking account is overdrawn. Reflect a bit on the possible reasons for the notification, then write down (in your notes) in a sentence or two what you believe to be the single most important cause.

Mood DisordersMood DisordersChapter 14, Lecture 5Chapter 14, Lecture 5

“If someone offered you a pill that would makeyou permanently happy, you would be welladvised to run fast and run far. Emotion is acompass that tells us what to do, and a compassthat is perpetually stuck on NORTH is worthless.”

- Daniel Gilbert

Mood Disorders

Emotional extremes of mood disorders come in two principal forms.

1. Major depressive disorder

2. Bipolar disorder(a less extreme type of depressive state is

known as dysthymic disorder)

Major Depressive Disorder

Depression is the “common cold” of psychological disorders. In a year, 5.8%

of men and 9.5% of women report depression worldwide (WHO, 2002).

“Depression has been called the “commoncold” of psychological disorders – anexpression that effectively describes itspervasiveness but not its seriousness.”

- David Myers

Major Depressive Disorder

Major depressive disorder occurs when signs of depression last two weeks or more and are

not caused by drugs or medical conditions.

1. Lethargy and fatigue2. Feelings of worthlessness3. Loss of interest in family &

friends4. Loss of interest in activities

Signs include:

Bipolar Disorder

Formerly called manic-depressive disorder. An alternation between depression and

mania signals bipolar disorder.

Multiple ideas

Hyperactive

Desire for action

Euphoria

Elation

Manic Symptoms

Slowness of thought

Tired

Inability to make decisions

Withdrawn

Gloomy

Depressive Symptoms

Bipolar Disorder

Many great writers, poets, and composers suffered from bipolar disorder.

During their manic phase creativity surged, but not during their depressed

phase.

Whitman Woolf Clemens Hemingway

Explaining Mood Disorders

Since depression is so prevalent worldwide, investigators want to develop a theory of depression that will suggest

ways to treat it. Lewinsohn et al., (1985, 1998) note that a theory of depression should explain the

following:1. Behavioral and cognitive

changes2. Common causes of depression

Theory of Depression

3. Gender differences

Theory of Depression

4. Depressive episodes self-terminate.5. Stressful events often precede

depression.6. Depression is increasing, especially in

the teens.

Post-partum depression

Desiree N

avarro/ Getty Im

ages

Suicide

The most severe form of behavioral response to depression is suicide. Each

year some 1 million people commit suicide worldwide.

Biological Perspective

Genetic Influences: Mood disorders run in families. The rate of depression is

higher in identical (50%) than fraternal twins (20%).

Linkage analysis and association studies

link possible genes and dispositions for

depression.

Jerry Irwin P

hotography

The Depressed Brain

PET scans show that brain energy consumption rises and falls with manic and

depressive episodes.

Courtesy of L

ewis B

axter anM

ichael E. P

helps, UC

LA

School of M

edicine

Depression is associated with lowered levels of serotonin and norepinephrine.

Social-Cognitive PerspectiveThe social-cognitive perspective suggests that depression arises partly from self-

defeating beliefs and negative explanatory styles.

Negative Thoughts and Moods

Explanatory style plays a major role in becoming depressed.

Imagine that you have just been notified by your bank that your checking account is overdrawn. Reflect a bit on the possible reasons for the notification, then write down (in your notes) in a sentence or two what you believe to be the single most important cause.Now, write an answer to the following:

1. Does the cause you describe reflect more about you or something more about other people or circumstances?

Internal or External?Internal or External?

Imagine that you have just been notified by your bank that your checking account is overdrawn. Reflect a bit on the possible reasons for the notification, then write down (in your notes) in a sentence or two what you believe to be the single most important cause.Now, write an answer to the following:

2. Is the cause something that is permanent or temporary; that is, is the cause likely to be present in the future?

Stable or Unstable?Stable or Unstable?

Imagine that you have just been notified by your bank that your checking account is overdrawn. Reflect a bit on the possible reasons for the notification, then write down (in your notes) in a sentence or two what you believe to be the single most important cause.Now, write an answer to the following:

3. Is the cause something that influences other areas of your life or only your checking account balance?

Global or Specific?Global or Specific?

Examples of Causal Explanations for the Event“My Checking Account is Overdrawn”

ExplanationStyle Internal External

Stable

Global “I’m incapable of doinganything right.”

“All institutions chronicallymake mistakes.”

Specific“I always have troublefiguring my balance.”

“This bank has always usedantiquated techniques.”

Unstable

Global “I’ve had the flu for aweek, and I’ve leteverything slide.”

“Holiday shopping makeslarge demands.”

Specific“The one time I didn’tenter a check is the onetime there’s a problem.”

“I’m surprised – my bankhas never made an errorbefore.”

Depression Cycle1. Negative stressful events.2. Pessimistic explanatory style.3. Hopeless depressed state.4. These hamper the way the individual thinks and acts,

fueling personal rejection.

p.621

HomeworkRead p.621-628

“Seligman contends that depression is commonamong young Westerners because the rise ofindividualism and the decline of commitmentto religion and family have forced young peopleto take personal responsibility for failure orrejection.” - David Myers