AP51195

Prompt: Science Summary

Researchers at the University of Adelaide have identified that depression cannot be treated in the same way for different people and have developed a new model for the mood disorder (University of Adelaide). Major Depressive Disorder is usually characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair, and usually results in the loss of the ability to experience pleasure (Boyd, 389). Depression can have major consequences on a person’s life, affecting appetite, weight, sleep patterns, energy, and concentration (Boyd, 389). People with depression are found to typically have a smaller patch of tissue in the lower prefrontal cortex and a higher level of neuroticism (Boyd, 391). According to Professor Bernhard Baune, “depression is much more complex than we have previously understood” (University of Adelaide). Baune and researchers studied the interactions between the immune system and the brain in healthy and depressed individuals. They found that “there are different immune factors at work in depression depending on the clinical phase of depression, and that the genes for this immune response are switched on and off at different times according to phases” (University of Adelaide). The different interactions between inflammatory, immunological, and brain cells affects the different phases of depression (University of Adelaide). This study showed that people suffering from depression should be careful with “blanket anti-inflammatory medication for the treatment of depression” (University of Adelaide) because what may work for most people may not work for others. This reminded of Barrett’s Law #9, beware the plausible, especially if it works (Barrett’s Laws), because each person is different and may require more specialized treatment for their specific problems.

References: University of Adelaide. "Phases of clinical depression could affect treatment." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 August 2014. .

Boyd, Denise, Wood, Samuel E., Wood, Ellen. //Mastering the World of Psychology//. 2nd ed. Massachusetts: Pearson Education, 2011. Print.

Only graders edit below this line!

Grader #1: 1407187819] Grader #2: 1407271258 Grader #3: 1407274890 Grader #4: 1407300026 Grader #5: 1407420527] =Grading Form= media type="custom" key="25032734"