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Having studied Psychology for not even a full semester, analyzing the nature/nurture debate for depression was somewhat of a challenge. My best interpretation of it goes as follows:

Most of the articles and information I read for research on this paper pretty much stated that depression was more a psychological disorder, rather than biological. Certain types of depression were said to perhaps have a genetic effect on people. An example of that is the bipolar disorder. As stated by Dr. Franklin, studies on family generations diagnosed with bipolar disorder had a somewhat different genetic makeup than those not diagnosed. However, he also went on to state that not everyone with this genetic makeup develops this disorder. Depression can actually occur in anyone at any time. Some biological factors contribute to it, but for the most part, it is psychological and can be caused by unpleasant experiences or things of that nature.

Experiences go along with the nurture side of this whole thing. Serious losses, chronic illnesses, relationship problems, work stress, family crisis, financial setback, or change that is not welcome can be a precursor of depression. Recent research suggested that severe childhood emotional trauma plays a role in depression of women. It was found that 37% of depressed women reported significant physical or sexual abuse by age 21. This can be an example of the way personal experiences account for cases of depression.

Another psychological aspect of depression is that it can inhibit the immune system. In the study by Dr. Miller and his colleagues, they found that the depressed subjects had very different ways of life than the controls. They smoked more, drank more caffeine, slept more fitfully, and exercised less. Only one of these differences, that in physical activity proved to have a relationship with lymphocyte production. Dr. Miller found that physical activity accounted for about half of the difference in immunity between depressed and normal subjects.

There are many more examples of depression being linked to either biological factors or psychological factors. Very often it is a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors that are involved in the development of depressive disorders, as well as other psychological problems. Luckily, there are various treatments that all seem to work well in curbing the effects of depression. The debate on whether nature or nurture plays a bigger role is a huge deal throughout all of psychology. Depression is just one of the many disorders more commonly discussed with nature/nurture.

Bowden, Bruce. ?Brain images show structure of depression? Science News,

Sept. 12, 1992, v.142, n.11, pg. 165

?The power of negative thinking.? The Economist, Dec. 18, 1999 v.353 i.8150 pg.127

Nesse, Randolph M. ?Is Depression an Adaptation??, Archives of General Psychiatry, Jan 2000, v.57 i.1 copyright 2000, American Medical Association.

Franklin, Donald J. A Guide to Depression, Psychology Information Online, copyright 1999.

Burns, David. Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy, April 1999, New York, NY.

The World Book Medical Encyclopedia, ?Depression?, pgs.244-245, copyright 1991, World Book, Inc. Chicago, IL.

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