Understanding the Biological, Psychological, and Social
Determinants of Health: Depression and Cardiovascular Disease
Part 1: Sarah’s Case - Genetic and Multifactorial Determinants of
Depression
Sara's psychotic symptoms are significantly influenced by her genetic history and the recent
disorders in her family. In genetics, it has been detected that genes, for example
brain-dependent neurological growth factor (BDNF) gene polymorphisms,
may be linked to major depressive disorder (Remez et al., 2021). Genetic
material interacts with stressful environmental situations in patterns such as
hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, which may
exacerbate the particular clinical picture through its combined effects with
chronic stress or life adversities like injury, abuse, or loss.
To make healthcare decisions, Sarah needs to comprehend genetic
consequences of a particular situation. Therefore, the clinicians can handle
the situation by using a patient-oriented approach, thus, including genomics-
based predictive medicine, such as an indication for drugs, such as SSRIs
administration, and evidence-grounded psychological therapies, including
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Besides that, offering lifestyle choices,
stress management, and social support can also turn a comprehensive
treatment to their health.
Interconnected Factors Influencing Mental Health and Strategies for
Well-being
Biologically, depression is impacted by its interaction with the brain, the
psyche, and the socio-cultural environment. One of these is the over
activation of the immune system because of chronic inflammation which can
lead to the symptom amplification. Biological: in the form of chronic
inflammation, gut dysbiosis, and hormonal imbalances, the onset of
symptoms can escalate.
Anxiety is the main factor leading to the depression, but lifestyle and
nutrition status can help resolve the disorder. Psychologically, attempts to
ameliorate depression are often unsuccessful, as low self-esteem,
rumination, and maladaptive coping strategies contribute to continued
depression. Social Knowledge Development is concerned with the classical
work of Chambliss on a social pathway to poverty. They linked poverty and
crime when they developed the "The Saints and The Roughnecks" case
study.
Strategies to assist Sarah include:
1. Personalized Psychotherapy and Medication: By implementing therapies
that monitor the process of depression management and detecting the
resistance of genes to medications or not.
2. Lifestyle Interventions: Moving and following a simple diet to provide anti-
inflammatory agents will help the mental health of the person.
3. Stress Management Programs: Mindfulness and Meditation-based stress
reduction initiatives can help balance the cortisol stress response system
and restore it to normal functioning of the system.
4. Community Support: Introducing Sarah to self-help mental health
organizations where she can develop resilience and collaborates with others
in her isolation battle.
Part 2: Mr. Johnson’s Case – Cardiovascular Disease Determinants
and Strategies
Mr. Johnson’s susceptibility to cardiovascular disease (CVD) is due to his
inherited risk factor, lifestyle choices, the burden of environmental stress,
and his recent respiratory infection. Cardiovascular diseases are suspected
to be slightly influenced by hereditary factors. In turn, according to Powell-
Wiley et al. (2022). Research has demonstrated that socioeconomic status (SES), anxiety,
and poor lifestyle choices affect cardiovascular health. It is considered one of the
elements that could aggravate chronic inflammation and overwork the
cardiovascular system.
Mr. Johnson’s office job—high-stress—activates the function of the
sympatho-adrenomedullary (SAM) and HPA axes, which increases the
production of cortisol and catecholamines and causes hypertension and
atherosclerosis. Furthermore, the sedentary lifestyle and poor dietary habits
are the culprits of fighting obesity and diabetes, which are parts of CVD.
Meanwhile, the respiratory infection is responsible for the reduction of
oxygen efficiency and the systemic inflammation which places his
cardiovascular system under another stress.
Strategies to Address Mr. Johnson’s Situation:
1. Lifestyle Modifications: Physical Activity: Help can warm up with simple
exercises such as walking or low-impact workouts initially to avoid any new
injury and to improve his heart and overall health.
[Link] Changes: Attempting a DASH diet may be totally new to him, but it
is a better alternative in the end. The logic behind it is to reduce oxidation
from endocannabinoids.
3. Preventive Interventions: Regular screenings (e.g., blood pressure,
cholesterol) to check cardiovascular risk level.
Vaccination and infection control in the middle of respiratory infections - this
will not seriously affect your health.
4. Community Engagement and Social Support: Programs encouraging the
adoption of a healthy lifestyle and directing people to sites and places where
exercise is possible.
5. Medical Management: Partnership with medical teams for medications
(e.g., antihypertensives, statins) with lifestyle changes for instance to lose
weight.
Conclusion
Sarah and Mr. Johnson’s situations, quite apparently, are good chance for
people to see how all these three (genetics, environment, lifestyle)
components of a health problem are interrelated with each other and how
they all affect our health. A comprehensive program that includes the three
capacities of genetic, psychological, and social factors is absolutely
necessary. For Sarah, the issue of mental health can be taken care of by
personalized therapy targeting her stress management practices and her
social backup systems. For Mr. Johnson, there are strategies that could be
employed to improve his lifestyle and hence, prevent his risk of CVD. Thus,
the best way of dealing with these factors is to understand and solve them
completely as a sum piece. Health improvement will be their result.
References
Remes, O., Mendes, J. F., & Templeton, P. (2021). Biological, psychological,
and social determinants of depression: A review of recent literature. Brain
Sciences, 11(12), 1633. [Link]
Powell-Wiley, T. M., Baumer, Y., Baah, F. O., Baez, A. S., Farmer, N., Mahlobo,
C. T., & Wallen, G. R. (2022). Social determinants of cardiovascular disease.
Circulation Research, 130(5), 782-799.
[Link]
Sincerely,
Husna Popalzai
