Critical Analysis of Depression
Exploration of Depression: A Critical Analysis of Attachment Strategies
Simone M. Maschler
Victorian University
Word Count 1600 (excluding references)
Abstract
Currently attachment theory is widely used to understand adult interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships such as depression. According to this theory and substantial body of evidence pessimistic thinking originates from early childhood attachment strategies, and has a major role in depression. As an adult according to the theory, negative cognitive schemas originate from primed attachment style, which both within a contextual environment will activate and lead to a depressive episode. In reviewing this relationship, interventions and prevention in cognitive counselling practice need to be explored and effectiveness considered, as they are indicative of the underlying relationship.
Attachment theory as proposed by Bowlby was based on the clinical observation and proposed that disruptions in mother-child relationship are precursors of later psychopathology (Cassidy & Shaver, 1999). Depression is characterised as a Major Depressive Episode, when five of the described symptoms last for a minimum duration of two weeks and must include either depressed mood or loss of interest (4th ed., text rev.; DSM–IV–TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Symptoms include: significant weight loss or gain or increase or decrease in appetite, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation or retardation, fatigue or loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt, diminished concentration or indecisiveness, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. Depression, which can be triggered by the interaction of stressful events such as: a loss of relationship through death or divorce; and demonstrated as negative cognitive processing bias such as predicting pessimistically performance on a test reflecting IQ (Strunk et al, 2009), has an complex relationship to those childhood
Simone M. Maschler
Victorian University
Word Count 1600 (excluding references)
Abstract
Currently attachment theory is widely used to understand adult interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships such as depression. According to this theory and substantial body of evidence pessimistic thinking originates from early childhood attachment strategies, and has a major role in depression. As an adult according to the theory, negative cognitive schemas originate from primed attachment style, which both within a contextual environment will activate and lead to a depressive episode. In reviewing this relationship, interventions and prevention in cognitive counselling practice need to be explored and effectiveness considered, as they are indicative of the underlying relationship.
Attachment theory as proposed by Bowlby was based on the clinical observation and proposed that disruptions in mother-child relationship are precursors of later psychopathology (Cassidy & Shaver, 1999). Depression is characterised as a Major Depressive Episode, when five of the described symptoms last for a minimum duration of two weeks and must include either depressed mood or loss of interest (4th ed., text rev.; DSM–IV–TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Symptoms include: significant weight loss or gain or increase or decrease in appetite, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation or retardation, fatigue or loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt, diminished concentration or indecisiveness, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. Depression, which can be triggered by the interaction of stressful events such as: a loss of relationship through death or divorce; and demonstrated as negative cognitive processing bias such as predicting pessimistically performance on a test reflecting IQ (Strunk et al, 2009), has an complex relationship to those childhood
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