Depression: Biological or Environmental

Depression: Biological or Environmental

Tracy Charles

Developing a Psychology Perspective

Unit 9 Assignment

Capella University

December 2013

Depression: Biological or Environmental?

Introduction

Depression affects millions of people in the world every day. Depression affects everyone differently. Some may feel tired, while others struggle with physical ailments. According to “The American Journal of Psychiatry” by the year 2020 it is projected, that major depression will be the second leading source of disability worldwide (Sullivan, Neale, & Kendler, 2000). While the exact reasoning of what causes depression may never be known, there are large volumes of evidence that show that biological and environmental factors both influence major depression. Many influences contribute to the occurrence of major depression such as biological, environmental, genetics, and gender.

Biological vs. Environmental

“It is common in the United States for depression to be described as resulting from a chemical imbalance” (France, Lysaker, & Robinson, 2007). According to Dr. Michael C. Miller (2011), he states that yes, the brain in some instances can have a chemical imbalance, but that alone does not cause depression. Chemicals in the brain play a large part in depression. For example, Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that promotes happiness, being able to relax and get a good night’s sleep. Neurotransmitters are biological and when they are not stable then issues such as depression arise. Several factors can cause Serotonin levels to fluctuate. For example, consuming foods with low levels of Tryptophan, having a vitamin B6 deficiency (Traister, 2010), prolonged exposure to stress, hormonal changes and the intake of alcohol or caffeine. When an individual has a low level of Serotonin, they are more likely to become depressed and may have more fear which can lead to problems such as “committing suicidal acts, aggressive acts, or impulsive acts” (Potash,...