Abnormal Psychology- Depression

Running head : PSYCHOLOGY

Abnormal Psychology- Depression

Name

Institution

Course

Tutor

Date

Each and every person has suffered from depression at one time one or another in his or her life . However , the extent to which individuals suffer from depression varies from one person to another . Whereas some people undergoing depression may feel sad , others experience feelings of emptiness , apathy , and lifelessness . Throughout history depression has been described in different versions . In the 19th century it was believed that depression is a condition arising from inheritance (Beck

and Alford , 2009 . Later on depression was associated with internal guilt and conflict . Depression was also linked to external conflicts People have been suffering from depression since the inception of human life . Depressive disorders , as indicated by Knaus and Ellis (2006 , can be referred to as a group of symptoms that mirrors a sad as well as irritable mood whose magnitude is high above normal sadness and grief Sadness and irritability in depression are characterized by prolonged duration and greater intensity in addition to severe symptoms and functional incapacities as compared to normal grief . Signs and symptoms of depressions are not only characterized by negative feelings , mood and thoughts , but also distinct changes in bodily functions (Knaus and Ellis , 2006 . Some of the specific changes in bodily functions associated with depression include : crying , reduced libido , decreased overall performance , and weight loss in addition to loss of appetite and sleep disturbance (National Institute of Mental Health , 2007 . Most of these changes occur as a result...