Psychological problems – How would psychological problems affect you?

Welcome to Topic 3: Psychological Problems

In this chapter, we are going to explore a very important question: How would psychological problems affect you? Mental health is just as important as physical health. We will look at two specific conditions: unipolar depression and addiction. You will learn what they are, why they happen, and how psychologists try to help people recover.

Don't worry if some of the medical terms seem a bit heavy at first! We will break them down into simple pieces together. Understanding this topic helps us become more empathetic and informed about the world around us.

1. Understanding the Problems: Depression and Addiction

To talk about mental health, doctors and psychologists use a big "rulebook" called the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). This helps them make sure they are diagnosing people correctly.

Unipolar Depression

Everyone feels sad sometimes, but unipolar depression is different. It is a long-lasting mood disorder where a person feels extremely low for weeks or months at a time.

Key Symptoms (from the ICD):
• Low mood: Feeling sad, numb, or "empty" most of the day.
• Loss of interest: Not enjoying hobbies or activities they used to love (this is called anhedonia).
• Lack of energy: Feeling "wiped out" even after resting.
• Other signs: Changes in sleep, appetite, and feeling worthless.

Addiction

Addiction is a mental health problem where a person has no control over doing something or taking a substance, even though it is hurting them.

Key Features:
• Withdrawal: Feeling physically ill or shaky when they stop.
• Tolerance: Needing more of the substance or activity to get the same "buzz."
• Dependence: Feeling like they cannot function without it.

Quick Review: Unipolar depression is about persistent low mood. Addiction is about a loss of control over a behavior or substance.

2. How the World is Changing

Did you know? The number of people diagnosed with mental health problems has been rising steadily over the last few decades. Why is this happening?

1. Less Stigma: In the past, people were ashamed to talk about mental health. Today, more people feel safe asking for help.
2. Social Media: Constant comparison to others can lead to lower self-esteem.
3. Modern Stress: Busy lifestyles and economic pressure can trigger problems.

The Impact on Society and Individuals

Psychological problems don't just affect the person; they affect everyone.
• Individuals: May struggle to keep a job, finish school, or maintain friendships.
• Society: The government spends billions on healthcare and support. Also, many workdays are lost because people are too unwell to go in.

3. Why Do These Problems Happen? (The Explanations)

Psychologists look at three main ways to explain these problems: Genes, Thinking, and Learning.

The Genetic Explanation (Nature)

This idea suggests we "inherit" a risk for depression or addiction from our parents through our DNA.

• Depression: Some people might have a gene that makes it harder for their brain to use "feel-good" chemicals like serotonin.
• Addiction: Some people may be born with a brain that reacts more strongly to rewards, making them more likely to get "hooked."

Strengths: It is scientific and uses evidence from twin studies.
Weaknesses: It is reductionist (it simplifies a complex human experience down to just DNA) and ignores the environment.

Cognitive Theory of Depression (Thinking)

This theory says depression is caused by faulty thinking. Imagine looking at the world through dark, blurry sunglasses—everything looks negative because of the glasses, not because the world is actually dark.

Strengths: It empowers people to change their own thoughts.
Weaknesses: It can feel like it's "blaming" the patient for their own thoughts.

Learning Theory of Addiction (Nurture)

This says addiction is a learned behavior.
• Operant Conditioning: If you do something and it feels good (Positive Reinforcement), you do it again.
• Social Learning: If you see a "cool" role model drinking or gambling, you might copy them.

Strengths: It explains why peer pressure is so powerful.
Weaknesses: It doesn't explain why some people try a drug once and never do it again, while others get addicted.

Key Takeaway: Problems usually come from a mix of our Nature (genes) and our Nurture (how we are raised and what we learn).

4. Treatments: How People Get Better

There are two main ways to treat these problems: talking therapies and medicine.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a popular "talking therapy." It aims to change how you think (Cognitive) and what you do (Behavioural).
• In Depression: The therapist helps the patient challenge negative thoughts (e.g., changing "I am a failure" to "I made a mistake, but I can learn").
• In Addiction: The therapist helps the person identify "triggers" (like certain friends or places) and teaches them how to say no.

Strengths: It gives the patient long-term skills. There are no side effects.
Weaknesses: It takes a lot of hard work and time from the patient.

Drug Treatments

• Depression: Doctors often prescribe SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). These help increase the amount of serotonin in the brain to improve mood.
• Addiction: Sometimes "replacement" drugs are used (like nicotine patches for smokers) to slowly reduce the craving.

Strengths: They work quickly and are easy to take.
Weaknesses: They can have side effects (like feeling sick or tired) and don't fix the original cause of the problem.

5. Core Studies You Need to Know

Caspi et al. (2003) - The 5-HTT Gene and Depression

Aim: To see if a specific gene (5-HTT) makes people more likely to get depressed after a stressful life event.
Method: Researchers followed over 800 people for many years. They looked at their genes and kept track of how many "stressful life events" (like losing a job or a breakup) they had.
Findings: People with a "short" version of the 5-HTT gene were much more likely to become depressed after stress than people with the "long" version.
Conclusion: Depression is caused by a combination of genes (Nature) and life stress (Nurture).

Young (2007) - CBT for Internet Addiction

Aim: To see if CBT can help people who are addicted to the internet.
Method: 114 people had online CBT sessions. They were taught to manage their time and change their thoughts about the internet.
Findings: Most people showed significant improvement in their symptoms after about 12 sessions.
Conclusion: CBT is an effective way to treat "new" addictions like internet use.

6. The Big Debate: Nature vs. Nurture

In Psychology, we always ask: Are we born this way (Nature) or do we become this way because of our life (Nurture)?

• Nature argument: Points to the Caspi study and the idea that brain chemistry and genes control our mental health.
• Nurture argument: Points to Learning Theory and the idea that our environment, our friends, and our experiences shape us.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't think it has to be one or the other! Most psychologists today believe in the Interactionist approach—that both work together.

Final Key Takeaway: Psychological problems are complex. They involve our biology, our thoughts, and our environment. Because there are many causes, there are also many different ways to help people recover.