Biological Perspective On Depression Essay
Exploring the Biological Perspective on Depression Depression is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “a state of being depressed; a state of feeling sad. A psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies” (Merriam-Websters).
Major depression affects over fifteen million American adults or about 8% of the US population age eighteen and older in a given year. Women experience depression about twice as often as men. Approximately 80% of people who experience depression are currently not receiving any treatment. This statistic is sad because depression is one of the most treatable illnesses. If treated with the proper medication and or therapy, 80% to 90% will find relief. By the year 2020, depression will be the second most common health problem in the world (PBS).
I believe depression to be a very interesting topic because as common as depression is, there is still a stigma …show more content…
When the connection is made, it is in the form of an electrical impulse which travels down the connections between neurons. The neurons that carry these electrical impulses contain small gaps called synapses. These are important because they allow electrical activity, and hence brain functioning, to take place. In order for an impulse (or message) to go from one neuron across the synapse to another neuron, a number of important enzymes, called neurotransmitters, have to come into play. In total there six different groups of neurotransmitters and each one is specific to a particular type of brain cell. From the point of view of depression, the main neurotransmitters are serotonin and noradrenalin, sometimes called norepinephrine
Major depression affects over fifteen million American adults or about 8% of the US population age eighteen and older in a given year. Women experience depression about twice as often as men. Approximately 80% of people who experience depression are currently not receiving any treatment. This statistic is sad because depression is one of the most treatable illnesses. If treated with the proper medication and or therapy, 80% to 90% will find relief. By the year 2020, depression will be the second most common health problem in the world (PBS).
I believe depression to be a very interesting topic because as common as depression is, there is still a stigma …show more content…
When the connection is made, it is in the form of an electrical impulse which travels down the connections between neurons. The neurons that carry these electrical impulses contain small gaps called synapses. These are important because they allow electrical activity, and hence brain functioning, to take place. In order for an impulse (or message) to go from one neuron across the synapse to another neuron, a number of important enzymes, called neurotransmitters, have to come into play. In total there six different groups of neurotransmitters and each one is specific to a particular type of brain cell. From the point of view of depression, the main neurotransmitters are serotonin and noradrenalin, sometimes called norepinephrine