What is depression?

In your first year of IB Psychology at Pamoja Education, you will study Approaches to Research and Approaches to Understanding Behaviour before you complete the IA. SL students also study Abnormal Psychology. HL students study Abnormal Psychology and the Psychology of Human Relationships.

The Abnormal Psychology options will focus on major depressive disorder (MDD). We will start by describing the major symptoms of this disorder and then examine theories about its biological, cognitive and sociocultural causes. You will also study various treatment methods.

This article, What is depression and why is it rising? from The Guardian provides an overview of depression. It begins with defining the term before showing how this psychological disorder is reaching epidemic proportions. Causes and treatment are discussed and there are some excellent recommendations for further reading.