Running head: MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER Major Depressive Disorder LaTisha Green Cameron University Abstract At one time or another one has felt depressed, sad, lonely, or misunderstood. Being depressed is normal for everyone at one point of time and is a natural reaction to a loss, difficulties in life, and a deflated self-esteem. When this feeling of sadness becomes intense, lasts for a long period, and it prevents one from living a normal life is when the depression needs to be looked at more closely. There are different types of depressive illnesses. This paper will discuss one depressive illness known as Major Depressive Disorder.
This disorder is a treatable medical condition. The symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment based on different theories will be discussed later in the paper. One must remember that it is okay to be depressed sometimes and it is only human to have those feelings of depression but when the depression lasts for long periods is when the person needs to seek therapy. Major Depressive Disorder Major Depressive Disorder, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), is a mental disorder characterized by a pervasive low mood and loss of interest or pleasure in a person’s favorite activities. 2000) References The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (2008) Child Sexual Abuse. Retrieved June 28, 2008 from http://www. aacap. org/cs/root/facts_for_families/child_sexual_abuse Briere, J. (1992). Methodological issues in the study of sexual abuse effects. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60(2), 196-203. Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2007). Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect. Washington, DC, Author. Retrieved June 16, 2008 from http://www. childwelfare. gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/define. cfm. Coffey, P. , Leitenberg, H. Henning, K. , Turner, T. , & Bennett, R. (1996). The relation between methods of coping during adulthood with a history of childhood sexual abuse and current psychological adjustment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64(5), 1090-1093. Diehl, A. , & Prout, M. (2002). Effects of posttraumatic stress disorder and child sexual abuse on self-efficacy development. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 72(2), 262-265. Kendall-Tackett, K. A. , Williams, L. , & Finkelhor, D. (1993). Impact of sexual abuse on children: A review and synthesis of recent empirical studies.
American Psychological Association, 113(1), 164-180. McCrae, J. , Chapman, M. , & Christ, S. (2006). Profile of Children Investigated for Sexual Abuse: Association With Psychopathology Symptoms and Services. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 76(4), 468-481. McNally, R. J. , Perlman, C. A. , Ristuccia, C. S. , & Clancy, S. A. (2006). Clinical characteristics of adults reporting repressed, recovered, or continuous memories of childhood sexual abuse. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(2), 237-242. New, Michelle. Abuse. (November 2007). Retrieved June 27, 2008 from http://kidshealth. rg/teen/your_mind/families/family_abuse. html. Ramsey, Pam. Psychological Effects of Incest on Girls Focusing on Sibling Incest. (1994) Retrieved June 27, 2008 from http://www. pamramsey. com/incest. html. Rice, M. , & Harris, G. (2002, May). Men who molest their sexually immature daughters: is a special explanation required?. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 111(2), 329-339. Saakvitne, K. (1997). Review of Victimized daughters: Incest and the development of the female self. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 14(4), 549-553. Testa, M. , VanZile-Tamsen, C. , Livingston, J. A. 2005). Childhood sexual abuse, relationship satisfaction, and sexual risk taking in a community sample of women. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73(6), 1116-1124. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on children, youth and families. (2008). Child Maltreatment 2006. Washington, DC: Author. U. S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. (2001). Child Abuse Reported to the Police. Retrieved June 29, 2008 from http://www. ncjrs. gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/187238. pdf. U. S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. 2004). Prostitution of Juveniles: Patters from NIBRS. Retrieved June 29, 2008 from http://www. ncjrs. gov/html/ojjdp/203946/page5. html. Whealin, Julia. Child Sexual Abuse. (n. d. ). Retrieved June 29, 2008 from http://www. ncptsd. va. gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_shts/fs_child_sexual_abuse. html. Williams, S. , MacMillan, H. , Jamieson, E. (2006). The potential benefits of remaining in school on the long-term mental health functioning of physically and sexually abused children: Beyond the academic domain. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 76(1), 18-22.
