Psychological factors of depression
Psychological Factors
According to Psycho Central, "Certain psychological factors put people at risk for depression. People with low self-esteem, who consistently view themselves and the world with pessimism, or who are readily overwhelmed by stress, may be prone to depression.
Other psychological factors, such as perfectionism and sensitivity to loss and rejection, may increase a person’s risk for depression. Depression is also more common in people with chronic anxiety disorders and borderline and avoidant personality disorders."
According to Psycho Central, "Certain psychological factors put people at risk for depression. People with low self-esteem, who consistently view themselves and the world with pessimism, or who are readily overwhelmed by stress, may be prone to depression.
Other psychological factors, such as perfectionism and sensitivity to loss and rejection, may increase a person’s risk for depression. Depression is also more common in people with chronic anxiety disorders and borderline and avoidant personality disorders."
Cognition and Depression
According Carolyn Williams, although various psychological theories offer different explanations for depression, most acknowledge the role of cognition, or thoughts, in depressive symptoms. In 1967, Aaron Beck's cognitive model of depression emerged as the first of these theories to posit a central link between cognitive traits and depression via cognitive distortions--systematic irrational biases in thinking. These traits remain important components in the conceptualization and treatment of depression.Cognition plays a vital and central role in depression. Based on the narratives of depressed individuals, which included irrational beliefs and sweeping pessimism, he proposed a cognitive triad of negative thoughts--a negative view of self, environment and future--as a defining attribute of depression. The cognitive model views beliefs and expectations as the determinants of affective states. That is, your perception of life events, rather than the events
themselves, determines how you feel about them. Cognitive distortions characterize depressed thinking. Examples of cognitive distortions include dichotomous thinking--viewing life experiences as either full successes or full failures--and overgeneralization--creating general, global rules from particular events. These biases often arise as automatic thoughts and as negative self-talk. Schemas, mental categories we create to organize information, also represent an important feature. According to the cognitive model of depression, maladaptive schemas, such as beliefs about the inevitability of failure, developed early in life can lead to cognitive distortion.
themselves, determines how you feel about them. Cognitive distortions characterize depressed thinking. Examples of cognitive distortions include dichotomous thinking--viewing life experiences as either full successes or full failures--and overgeneralization--creating general, global rules from particular events. These biases often arise as automatic thoughts and as negative self-talk. Schemas, mental categories we create to organize information, also represent an important feature. According to the cognitive model of depression, maladaptive schemas, such as beliefs about the inevitability of failure, developed early in life can lead to cognitive distortion.
APA Reference
Martin, B. (2006). What are the Risk Factors for Depression?. Psych Central. Retrieved on February 10, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/what-are-the-risk-factors-for-depression/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistic.Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/depression.html
Williams, C. (2010). Cognitive Traits of Depression. Live Strong. Retieved on May 29, 2010, from http://www.livestrong.com/article/134531-cognitive-traits-depression/