Clinical Psychology Severe Depression - 1062 Words

Clinical Psychology: Severe Depression I have chosen Clinical Psychology severe depression; the reason for that is because it is very common, over nine million Americans are diagnosed with clinical depression at some point in their lives. Many more people suffer from clinical depression because they do not seek treatment. They may feel that depression is a personal weakness, or try to cope with their symptoms alone. On the other hand, some people are comfortable with admitting their symptoms and seeking help. According to The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, April 15, 1949) even the most severe cases, depression can be effectively treated. The earlier that treatment can begin, the more effective it is.The first step†¦show more content†¦The biologic basis of Clinical Depression originates in the brain. Your brain is made up of a complex network of nerve cells, called neurons and of brain chemicals, called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters transmit messages from one neuron to another. Two of these neurotransmitters are not produced in sufficient quantities in a depressed person’s brain. Because of this lack, too few messages get transmitted between neurons and the symptoms of depression occur (Nestler 1). In Clinical depression the chemicals in the brain are out-of-balance. New technology allows researchers to take pictures of the brain that show activity levels in the brain. Some studies with these kinds of techniques have suggested that the patterns of activation in the brains of depressed people are different than those who are not. These tests can help doctors and researchers learn more about depression and other mental illnesses (Nestler 2) . Since this research is fairly new, it is not yet used to diagnose clinical depression. Strong evidence suggests that clinical depression runs in families. Still, just because a person has family members with clinical depression does not guarantee that he or she will develop it. You may get it even if no one else in your family has had it. People with high levels of stress are much more likely to develop depression that those who do not. Though most people