Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. Depression in psychology is an emotional state marked by feelings of guilt. Psychology assignments largely determine the final grades but in most instances, students find it hard completing their psychology homework due to the adequate research needed to craft a quality paper. Therefore, they need to seek psychology paper writing help from a reputable service like Gudwriter that will improve their overall success in the subject.

Depression College Essay Outline

Introduction

Thesis: Depression may be caused by genetic factors, biochemical factors, physical illness, aging of the brain, psychological and environmental stressors, and personality.

Body

Paragraph 1:

Genetic factors significantly influence an individual’s propensity to suffer depression

• A mixture of genes, rather than a single gene, may play a part.
• Depression susceptibility is a heritable condition.

Paragraph 2:

Neurotransmitter functionality is probably compromised in the majority of clinical depression cases.

• Neurotransmitters are responsible for transmitting signals throughout the brain.
• Dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin are the main ones that impact mood.

Paragraph 3:

Physical illness can indirectly contribute to depression.

• One can experience a reduced mood when they are sick.
• Depression may result from changes in how the body functions due to the illness.

Paragraph 4:

As one age, the overall functioning of their brain may be hampered.

• This may impact the neurotransmitter pathways that control mood.
• Late-onset depression may then develop.

Paragraph 5:

Psychological and environmental stressors also trigger depression, especially in cases of long-term stress.

• Stress can become enduring and thus a possible depression risk factor.
• Prolonged stress can lower one’s self-esteem and trigger shame.

Paragraph 6:

Some types of personalities are more predisposed to depression than others.

• High anxiety levels can attract irritability or anxious fretting.
• Heightened self-criticism or a constant feeling of decreased self-worth may attract depression.

Conclusion

• Depression results from an individual’s susceptibility to depression as well as stress. 
• It may be caused by genetic, biological, stress-related, and personality factors.  
• Understanding these factors may help in the proper management and treatment of depression.

Some evergreen psychology essay topics for students.

Depression College Essay

Introduction

Depression is a mental disorder that yields a prolonged sense of melancholy and lack of enthusiasm. It may manifest in many different forms and may affect how one feels, thinks, and behaves, and can cause several physical and emotional difficulties. One can find it difficult to carry out their regular daily tasks, and they might occasionally think life is not worth living. Long-term treatment may be necessary for depression. With proper medication, counseling, or both, the majority of depressed persons get improved symptoms. While the exact cause of depression is not known, some of the factors associated with the disorder include genetic factors, biochemical factors, physical illness, aging of the brain, psychological and environmental stressors, and personality.

There is compelling proof that genetic factors significantly influence an individual’s propensity to suffer depression, particularly bipolar disorder, psychotic depression, and melancholic depression. It is more likely that a mixture of genes, rather than a single gene, may play a part. Depression susceptibility is a heritable condition. If a biological parent suffers from clinical depression, the hereditary risk of acquiring the condition is approximately 40 percent. The other 60 percent of the risk comes from environmental variables (Hammen et al., 2018). Although it is unlikely for depression to emerge in the absence of stressful life circumstances, the likelihood that it will do so is mostly genetically driven.

On biochemical factors, neurotransmitter functionality is probably compromised in the majority of clinical depression cases. Chemicals called neurotransmitters are responsible for transmitting signals throughout the brain. Numerous neurotransmitters carry out a variety of functions. However, dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin are the three main ones that have a significant impact on the mood of an individual (Hammen et al., 2018). Neurotransmitters connect with a variety of nerve cells during the regular functioning of the brain, with the signal being just as potent in the second and succeeding cells as it would be in the first cell. However, in depressed individuals, mood-regulating neurotransmitters malfunction, causing the signal to be either exhausted or interrupted before reaching the subsequent nerve cell.

Physical illness can indirectly contribute to depression. While the sickness itself may not directly depress a person, one can experience a reduced mood when they are sick, in pain or uncomfortable, confined, or unable to do the activities they enjoy. Depression may result from changes in how the body functions brought about by the illness (Shapiro, 2017). Thus, one can experience depression even if the sickness is not making them feel depressed. For instance, immune system dysfunction may contribute to depression, although more study is needed to confirm this association. Similarly, some cancers may cause a depressive illness in a manner that is not apparent to the individual experiencing it.

It is further noteworthy that as one age, the overall functioning of their brain may be hampered, which may have an impact on the neurotransmitter pathways that control mood. Regarding depression, some causes of these changes are worth noting. One is late-onset depression whereby elderly persons who develop dementia may also experience their first major depressive episode. This form of a depressive episode is frequently melancholic or psychotic and is caused by the disruption of neural pathways connecting specific basal ganglia and frontal brain areas (Shapiro, 2017). These brain alterations may be signs of aging, especially in those who are more susceptible to this type of “wear and tear.” Mini-strokes or high blood pressure may be a factor, emphasizing the significance of proper blood pressure management.

Psychological and environmental stressors may also trigger depression, especially in cases of long-term stress. People respond to stressors in various ways throughout their lives. Some manage them and psychologically heal within a few days. However, there can be times when stress becomes enduring and thus a possible depression risk factor. For instance, prolonged stress can lower one’s self-esteem and trigger shame. The likelihood of experiencing depression in later life and maturity is increased by spending one’s childhood in an abusive or neglectful family (Barton & Armstrong, 2018). Other stress-related factors may include employment loss and/or financial issues, the dissolution of a marriage or intimate relationship, or the death of a loved one, and a feeling of shame by for instance feeling that one has not met their or other people’s expectations of them. 

Finally, according to research, some types of personalities are more predisposed to depression than others. One personality type in this respect is people who have high anxiety levels, which can be felt as either an externalized form of “irritability” or as an internalized form of “anxious fretting” (Barton & Armstrong, 2018). Another is shyness displayed as personal restraint and/or social aversion. One may also be easily depressed if they have a personality of heightened self-criticism or a constant feeling of decreased self-worth. The same would be the case for a person who has high interpersonal sensitivity. Such a person could easily develop paranoia and develop depression (Barton & Armstrong, 2018). Although perfectionism might help prevent the onset of depression, it can lead to prolonged bouts in case depression occurs.   

Conclusion

Depression is not caused by one single factor. Instead, it is a result of an individual’s susceptibility to depression as well as stress. There is a genetic component to the risk of experiencing depression. Other biological factors that can contribute to depression are physical sickness and aging. Depression can also be triggered by stress, but it is crucial to understand how stress means different things to different people. Non-melancholic depression can be more likely to occur in people with certain temperaments and personality types. A good understanding of these factors may help in the proper management and treatment of depression.

References

Barton, S., & Armstrong, P. (2018). CBT for depression: An integrated approach. SAGE. 

Hammen, C. L., Hammen, C., & Watkins, E. (2018). Depression. Routledge.

Shapiro, L. E. (2017). Overcoming depression: 44 therapeutic activities to bring happiness and fulfillment back into your life. Between Sessions Resources.

Psychology papers may seem complicated, but with a comprehensive guide on how to write a psychology paper, you are well equipped to write an excellent paper.

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