Clinical Depression Vs Cbt Research Paper

Many people use the terms depression and sadness interchangeably and they are often viewed as the same thing; however, they are vastly unique from one another by means of symptoms, intensity, and other factors. When we view sadness and depression as the same, we minimize the illness. While sadness is a painful emotion, it is a normal and natural reaction to difficult life events (CITE). All humans will experience sadness at some point. In contrast, a person with clinical depression does not always have a logical reason for exhibiting such dark feelings and thoughts. While general sadness is a transient feeling that passes within a short period of time, depression may linger for weeks or even years (CITE 4). A sad person feels bad, yet continues to get on with living. However, someone with clinical depression tends to feel hopeless and distressed. These particular differences between general sadness and clinical depression demonstrate the importance of recognizing the distinctions between the two.

According to DSM-5, clinical depression, or major depressive disorder, includes experiencing 5 out of 9 specific symptoms nearly every day. Such symptoms include change in sleep patterns, change in activity, …show more content…
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most common form of psychotherapy and allows individuals to change their negative ways of thinking and behaviors that are related to depression. The goal of it is to assist an individual with recognizing negative patterns of thinking, assess their validity, and replace those thoughts with healthier ones. It attempts to show that negative thinking is a habit that can be broken. CBT is a useful initial treatment for children and adolescents with moderate depression, but CBT combined with antidepressants optimal those with recurrent and severe