Psychodynamic Theory in Major Depression

Classical psychodynamic theory about depression from Freud (1917-1957) , believed that depression represents anger directed into oneself and not against those who are loved . Anger can be directed to self after experiencing the actual loss or threat of loss of those who considered this important .

Freud believed that mourning ( grieving ) is a healthy process for the bereaved person can finally detach themselves psychologically from someone who is lost due to death , separation , divorce , or other reasons . However , pathological grief that does not support a healthy separation . However , pathological grief that does not support a healthy separation . Instead , it will foster an endless depression . Pathological grief tends to occur in people who have a strong ambivalent feelings ( a combination of positive feelings ( love ) and negative ( anger, hostility ) ) against those who have gone or feared his departure . Freud theorized that when people feel lost , or even the fear of losing , an important figure of the person to whom they have ambivalent feelings , their angry feelings toward that person turns into extreme anger . However , extreme anger is triggered guilt , which actually prevents them to direct anger directly to people who have gone

To maintain a psychological relationship with the lost object , they use intro-injection , or brought into , a mental representation of the object . They then unite others into the self . Now anger inward , dealing with a part of the self that represents representation in of missing persons . This gives rise to self - hatred , that would cause depression .

Although also stressed the importance of the loss, the latest psychodynamic models focus more on issues related to feelings of self - worth individual will or self - esteem . A model , called the model of self - focusing , consider how people allocate their attentional processes after a loss ( death of loved ones , personal failures , etc) . According to this model , people who are susceptible to depression have a period of self - examination (self - focusing ) intense after the occurrence of a loss or a big disappointment . They become fixated on thoughts about the object ( the loved one ) or missing an important goal and still can not give up hope of somehow a way to get it back .