According to the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, major depressive disorder can be defined as a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities that lasts for two or more weeks at a time and has a significant impact on daily life. 25-year-old Tracy was referred to a mental health center when she began displaying symptoms of a depressive disorder that affected her daily functioning after her partner of two years "freaked out" and left her when she told him she was pregnant. Adversities were commonplace in Tracy 's childhood, which will have resulted in negative core beliefs about her self worth and the environment immediately around her. Individuals who are prone to depression tend to hold persistent, negative thought patterns
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Diagnosing the symptoms that Tracy has been encountering does not increase her own or her clinician 's understanding of the problem, instead it locates depression as a problem that is within her rather than as a reaction to her surroundings. Core beliefs are often internalised in an individual and triggers are considered their fault rather than acknowledging that the situation could have caused these responses. Rather than recognizing that an external factor such as Isaac 's own core beliefs or her parents’ lack of knowledge caused the abandonment, Tracy 's core beliefs led her to think that she was the problem. Diagnosing Tracy with a mental health problem creates the potential for her to locate the issues inside of herself making her feel more hopeless about the situation she is in. The unreliability of the diagnosis criteria was accentuated in a study undertaken by researchers in 1975 and again more recently by American psychologist Lauren Slater. These studies indicate that no causes can be found through a mental health problem diagnosis, as there is very little validity within the diagnoses. Outlined in chapter four of "A Straight Talking Introduction to the Causes of Mental Health Problems" applying a diagnosis to Tracy 's mental health issue implies that professionals have an understanding of her behaviours however as the article states, "a diagnosis ... substitutes for real understanding and explanation." (Read, John and Sanders, Pete., 2010). Diagnosing Tracy with depression would allow her access to medication if required and to receive therapy to get to the root of her issues. However there is still a possibility that Tracy could over-internalise her diagnosed mental health problem resulting in altered core issues that still do not result in a further understanding of her own behaviour and emotions. At the same time, there is also the possibility that
Diagnosing the symptoms that Tracy has been encountering does not increase her own or her clinician 's understanding of the problem, instead it locates depression as a problem that is within her rather than as a reaction to her surroundings. Core beliefs are often internalised in an individual and triggers are considered their fault rather than acknowledging that the situation could have caused these responses. Rather than recognizing that an external factor such as Isaac 's own core beliefs or her parents’ lack of knowledge caused the abandonment, Tracy 's core beliefs led her to think that she was the problem. Diagnosing Tracy with a mental health problem creates the potential for her to locate the issues inside of herself making her feel more hopeless about the situation she is in. The unreliability of the diagnosis criteria was accentuated in a study undertaken by researchers in 1975 and again more recently by American psychologist Lauren Slater. These studies indicate that no causes can be found through a mental health problem diagnosis, as there is very little validity within the diagnoses. Outlined in chapter four of "A Straight Talking Introduction to the Causes of Mental Health Problems" applying a diagnosis to Tracy 's mental health issue implies that professionals have an understanding of her behaviours however as the article states, "a diagnosis ... substitutes for real understanding and explanation." (Read, John and Sanders, Pete., 2010). Diagnosing Tracy with depression would allow her access to medication if required and to receive therapy to get to the root of her issues. However there is still a possibility that Tracy could over-internalise her diagnosed mental health problem resulting in altered core issues that still do not result in a further understanding of her own behaviour and emotions. At the same time, there is also the possibility that