Biological and Ecological Approach
Many factors are known to play a part in the development of psychological disorders such as depression, ranging from biological changes to ecological or environmental interactions. Both biology and ecology are looked at thoroughly by medical anthropologists for relationships and correlations within an “infected” population. Although the mechanisms for some biological are not quite completely understood the research and data is out there saying there is a positive correlation with onset depression.
Biological features consistent with people diagnosed with depression or people who are considered “at risk” for the development, can be described in a few ways, one being genetics. A person with a history of depression in their family is more likely to develop symptoms rather than someone who has a family that consists of no prior exposure to depression. This is where the mechanism gets a little hazy in the biology world, not too much is known about which specific genes are associated with the inheritance, but studies show that the correlation does seem to exist. Along with genetics, biological factors such as chemical imbalances have been connected with the mental illness. Neurotransmitters in the brain are considered clinically low compared to the “normal person”. These neurotransmitters play a direct role in the control of one’s mood, which seems to be suppressed in the depressive state (Mayo). Hormone imbalances play a similar role to that of neurotransmitter, and actually have been linked to gender discrimination within the disorder. As seen in the chart, a study done with information obtained by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2005-06 shows women (6.7%) are significantly at a higher risk than men (4%) for the development of depression (Brody). The hormone changes in women, associated with menopause and pregnancy, are more drastic than that in men, possibly causing more stress on the mind and body (Patel); as said in the “In Sickness and in Wealth” video from the week 2 material, stress decreases a persons health considerably, and in this case depression.
One major ecological factor associated with depression is socioeconomic status, or in simpler words how much money a person has. In the same study as stated earlier and in the graph shown, depression was more likely to occur in people who fall below the poverty line. The study was done with a questionnaire asking about many things including income and if symptoms associated with depression are present in that person. The more symptoms the person has is how the study defined the severity of each case, with the most severe cases on average coming from those who have a lower income (Brody). Similarly to income, traumatic life events that happen to people can influence or trigger the development of depression. As described and visualized, again in the week 2 materials, the video “Not Just a Paycheck” shows the struggle people have after events such as being laid off from their occupation, and the mental illnesses that develop from that said event, almost as if their life is spiraling out of control taking a turn for the worst.
The factors stated above are major players in depression development and are shared amongst many people who suffer from the disorder. Each persons personal characteristics and personal set of factors makes each case completely different than the next with how much variability actually takes place.
Biological features consistent with people diagnosed with depression or people who are considered “at risk” for the development, can be described in a few ways, one being genetics. A person with a history of depression in their family is more likely to develop symptoms rather than someone who has a family that consists of no prior exposure to depression. This is where the mechanism gets a little hazy in the biology world, not too much is known about which specific genes are associated with the inheritance, but studies show that the correlation does seem to exist. Along with genetics, biological factors such as chemical imbalances have been connected with the mental illness. Neurotransmitters in the brain are considered clinically low compared to the “normal person”. These neurotransmitters play a direct role in the control of one’s mood, which seems to be suppressed in the depressive state (Mayo). Hormone imbalances play a similar role to that of neurotransmitter, and actually have been linked to gender discrimination within the disorder. As seen in the chart, a study done with information obtained by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2005-06 shows women (6.7%) are significantly at a higher risk than men (4%) for the development of depression (Brody). The hormone changes in women, associated with menopause and pregnancy, are more drastic than that in men, possibly causing more stress on the mind and body (Patel); as said in the “In Sickness and in Wealth” video from the week 2 material, stress decreases a persons health considerably, and in this case depression.
One major ecological factor associated with depression is socioeconomic status, or in simpler words how much money a person has. In the same study as stated earlier and in the graph shown, depression was more likely to occur in people who fall below the poverty line. The study was done with a questionnaire asking about many things including income and if symptoms associated with depression are present in that person. The more symptoms the person has is how the study defined the severity of each case, with the most severe cases on average coming from those who have a lower income (Brody). Similarly to income, traumatic life events that happen to people can influence or trigger the development of depression. As described and visualized, again in the week 2 materials, the video “Not Just a Paycheck” shows the struggle people have after events such as being laid off from their occupation, and the mental illnesses that develop from that said event, almost as if their life is spiraling out of control taking a turn for the worst.
The factors stated above are major players in depression development and are shared amongst many people who suffer from the disorder. Each persons personal characteristics and personal set of factors makes each case completely different than the next with how much variability actually takes place.
Bibliography:
Brody, and Pratt. "Products - Data Briefs - Number 7 - September 2008." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed August 15, 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db07.htm.
Mayo Clinic. "Depression (major depression) - MayoClinic.com." Accessed August 15, 2013. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/DS00175.
Patel, Vikram. "Cultural factors and international epidemiology." Oxford Journals | Medicine | British Medical Bulletin. n.d. http://bmb.oxfordjournals.org/content/57/1/33.full.
Brody, and Pratt. "Products - Data Briefs - Number 7 - September 2008." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed August 15, 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db07.htm.
Mayo Clinic. "Depression (major depression) - MayoClinic.com." Accessed August 15, 2013. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/DS00175.
Patel, Vikram. "Cultural factors and international epidemiology." Oxford Journals | Medicine | British Medical Bulletin. n.d. http://bmb.oxfordjournals.org/content/57/1/33.full.