Major Depression
Major depression is the most common condition treated by psychologists. In this book chapter, we first outline the typical symptoms that characterize major depression as well as common risk factors for the development of the disorder. Next, we discuss com
- PDF / 694,523 Bytes
- 36 Pages / 439.37 x 666.142 pts Page_size
- 78 Downloads / 216 Views
Adults
1 Major Depression
Patricia A. Arean · Liat Ayalon
Abstract: Major depression is the most common condition treated by psychologists. In this book chapter, we first outline the typical symptoms that characterize major depression as well as common risk factors for the development of the disorder. Next, we discuss common diagnostic tools that assist clinicians in the initial recognition of the disorder as well as in further monitoring of the disorder across time. Potential pitfalls and complicating factors related to the diagnosis and monitoring of major depression are also addressed. We then discuss maintaining factors and mechanisms of change associated with major depression, as any psychological intervention has to take these into account when tailoring an appropriate intervention. Finally, we conclude by describing several evidence based treatments available to treat depression and the various outlets available for psychologists who are interested in learning how to apply these treatments in their clinical practice. We conclude by outlining the main competencies required of clinicians interested in working with individuals with major depression. These include: the ability to adequately detect and monitor depre ssion, the ability to make an informed case formulation, the ability to tailor treatment strategies based on existing knowledge concerning maintaining factors and mechanisms of change, and the ability to apply evidence based treatments in the context of evidence based practice.
1.1
Overview
Major depression is one of the most common mental disorders in adult populations and is the most common illness that psychologists treat. Major depression is considered to be the fourth leading cause of disability in the USA (WHO, 2000). It can affect people at any stage of life, and once a person experiences one episode of major depression, that person is likely to experience at least two to three relapses in his or her lifetime (Parashar et al., 2006). Major depression is also the leading cause of suicide in adults, particularly adults aged 65 and older (Conwell, 2001), and it is associated with increased morbidity and mortality when related to medical illness (WHO). It is particularly important that all clinical psychologists be familiar with major depression, specifically how to diagnose the disorder and differentiate it from other, similar disorders, how to determine a treatment plan, and how to use evidence-based interventions in treating it. Fortunately, major depression is one of the most widely studied mental disorders, and as such, there are numerous peer-reviewed studies, books, and manuals on the topic. Further, it has been studied widely across adult age groups and in a number of cultural groups. Our aim in this chapter is to synthesize the extant information on major depression and detail the core and expert competencies that clinical psychologists must have when working with this disorder. J. Thomas, M. Hersen (eds.), Handbook of Clinical Psychology Competencies, DOI 10.1007/978-0-387-
Data Loading...
