Psychopathological Condition Essay

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY
With reference to a specific example of a psychopathological condition, critically discuss
biological explanations of atypical psychological behaviors
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Author Note

1PSYCHOLOGY
Introduction
The aim of this essay is to discuss critically the biological explanations of the abnormal
behaviors related to Depression as the psychopathological condition. Depression (major
depressive disorder) is a serious as well as very common mental illness, which affects a
negatively a person’s feeling, thinking as well as their daily activities. The reason behind
choosing Depression as the psychopathological condition is that is among the most common
psychological disorders and is caused by a combination of biological, environmental, genetic
as well as psychological factors (Gilbert 2016). Moreover, this psychological condition can
occur in any age but mainly found once an individual step into their adulthood. The major
risk factors, which are included in depression, can be a history of depression in the family,
major trauma, stress or changes in life or physical illnesses and medication (Valkanova and
Ebmeier 2013).
Thus, this essay will discuss about the characteristics of the chosen psychopathological
condition, which will follow its relation with the various models of the atypical behavior.
Here the focus will be more on the biological perspectives. Moreover, the problems that are
inherited while classifying and diagnosis of this psychological behavior will be discussed.
Lastly, a small summary will be provided with all the important points under the conclusion
part.
Discussion
Depression is always associated with unhappiness and thus, the main characteristics of
depression can be overwhelming feeling, having difficulty in experiencing joy even in funny
situations, problem in falling asleep, worry, isolating self from people, getting inactive,
frequent crying fits, inappropriate eating habits, low self-esteem and being guilty. As per
DSM-5 there are a list of signs an d symptoms that is listed under major depressive disorder

2PSYCHOLOGY
and any individual having five or more of those symptoms persisting during the same 2-
weeks period with one of the symptoms being either depressed mood or loss of pleasure or
interest can be said to be suffering from depression. The symptoms that are listed in DSM-5
mainly cause impairment in social, professional and other significant areas of one’s life
(American Psychiatric Association 2013). Therefore, the common symptoms as per DSM-5
which are found in depressed people are that most of the day they are observed with
depressed mood, marked decreased interest in any activity throughout the day, weight loss
without dieting or weight gain, hypersomnia or Insomnia, psychomotor agitation, fatigue,
worthlessness feeling, unable to concentrate and repeated thought of death. Thus, if anyone is
found having less than five symptoms of DSM-5 category then that person will not be tagged
as falling under depression (Koukopoulos and Sani 2014).
As per the behavioral approach, every behavior is the outcome of the environment
in which one stays not the biology. Therefore, according to the behaviorists every action is
related to one’s life experience. Moreover, they stated that atypical behavior is actually
learned response, which has been conditioned in an individual. Therefore, behavioral model
states further opine that if this behavior is learned then it also can be unlearned. Every
network of catastrophic life event along with catastrophic interpretations can totally condition
an individual’s life forever (Martell, Dimidjian and Herman-Dunn 2013). There are few
strengths as well as weaknesses, which can be stated as below-
Strengths-
1. Behavioral models has helped developed various successful behavioral therapies
2. Through this approach it has been observed that once the symptoms of problem are
decreased, the patient will no longer found complaining about their problems
Weakness-