Apollonia was diagnosed with major depressive disorder five years ago. She knows her mother took medicine to combat depression and she worries her daughter will experience depression too. Why? Mood disorders have been shown to have a strong genetic and biological basis. Apollonia also suffers from social anxiety disorder. Mood disorders are more likely to occur in younger people. People who grow up with a depressed parent become depressed themselves. Question 100
Which of the following is an example of a diathesis-stress model? Ozzie treats his depression by exposing himself to a series of stressors so he can learn coping skills. Ozzie’s doctor does not believe that mental illness has a biological basis. Ozzie has a genetic predisposition towards depression, but he did not experience depression until his mother and father died. Ozzie treats his manic episodes by using medication to induce depression.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
Ozzie has a genetic predisposition towards depression, but he did not experience depression until his mother and father died.
Explanation
The diathesis-stress model is a widely recognized psychological theory that explains the development of mental disorders as the result of an interaction between a biological vulnerability (known as a diathesis) and environmental stressors. According to this model, individuals may inherit a predisposition toward certain mental illnesses, such as depression or anxiety. However, the presence of this predisposition alone is not enough to cause the disorder. It typically requires a significant stressor or series of stressors to trigger the symptoms.
In the question provided, the correct example of the diathesis-stress model is: “Ozzie has a genetic predisposition towards depression, but he did not experience depression until his mother and father died.” This scenario illustrates both components of the model. Ozzie’s genetic predisposition represents the diathesis, while the death of his parents serves as the major environmental stressor that activated his depression.
The other answer choices do not accurately reflect this model. For example, exposing oneself to stressors to learn coping skills is a form of behavioral therapy, not a description of how a disorder develops. The statement that a doctor does not believe in the biological basis of mental illness directly contradicts the foundational principle of the diathesis-stress model. Finally, using medication to induce depression to treat manic episodes is not a recognized treatment approach and does not reflect the interaction between predisposition and stress.
Understanding the diathesis-stress model is important because it highlights the complex relationship between nature and nurture. It helps explain why some individuals with a family history of mental illness may never develop symptoms, while others do when exposed to stressful life events. This model also supports individualized approaches to treatment and prevention.
