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Cutting the Loops of Depression: a System Dynamics Representation of the Feedback Mechanisms Involved in Depression Development

Depression is a complex illness that involves the instability of biological and psychological
structures in an individual. These disturbances make a depressed person to be affected in the
personal relationships within his social circles and to be unable to fulfill normal daily
activities as expected. Once depressed individuals recognize the need for help, they might be
part of ‘therapeutic essays’ based on doctors´ experience and contemporary advances. These
trial and error treatments can lead to unintended consequences that could worsen depression
symptoms. Therefore, personalized treatments (a currently buzz term in the medical domain)
are needed to reduce the time that an individual remains in a depressed condition. This paper
contributes to treatment personalization of depression by presenting the first comprehensive
feedback oriented model of the cognitive and biological structures involved in depression and
how different treatments may bring the main affected indicators during depression back to
their desired values. Moreover, the model generated with this project may serve as a tool for
improving academic discussion around depression and also as a communication device for
specialists (psychologists and physicians) to better communicate patients about their
condition and how treatments may affect it.