Browsing by Author "Ylijoki, Anu"
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Ylijoki, Anu (2016)Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mental health disorder, which requires a diagnosis or identifying an illness in order to be treated. There are nine criteria symptoms for MDD, and to acquire a diagnosis, an individual must exhibit five to nine of these symptoms (DSM-5). The weight of the criteria symptoms is assumed to be equal and a sum-score is calculated. The sum-score determines whether the MDD in question is mild, moderate or severe. The sum-scores simplify MDD because it is a heterogeneous syndrome. The diagnostic criteria see MDD as a common cause network: criteria symptoms are equally weighted indicators of an illness called MDD. Symptom-based networks are presented as an alternative, more precise way of modeling MDD. In symptom-based networks MDD is seen as consisting of causal connections between symptoms so that a certain existing symptom is likely to result in the manifestation of another symptom. Symptom-based networks are well-suited for explaining the heterogeneity of MDD, the vast spectrum of symptom combinations and the interrelationships of symptoms. In addition, symptom-based networks bypass entirely the problematic assumption that MDD is a latent phenomenon. The heterogeneity hidden in the MDD diagnosis is critically examined through research evaluating the diagnosis and pathogenesis of MDD as well as symptom studies. The results from depression studies and clinical practice strongly indicate that the official view of the scientific community on the etiology of MDD is wrong. A tremendous amount of heterogeneity is hidden behind the MDD diagnosis.
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