Mental health is an increasingly important topic in modern society and a frequent subject in IELTS Reading. The passage **”Depression”** delves into various aspects of the condition, from definitions and symptoms to treatment methods. This is a complex text that tests multiple skills simultaneously. In this article, ECE English provides a detailed analysis of the entire passage, offering answers with thorough explanations and a summary of key vocabulary to help you confidently conquer this reading task.
Detailed Reading Passage and Questions
Reading Content
(A) It is often more difficult for outsiders and non-sufferers to understand mental rather than physical illness… there is often a stigma attached to being mentally ill, or a belief that such conditions only exist in individuals who lack the strength of character to cope with the real world…
(B) Clinical depression… is said to affect up to almost 20% of the population… Studies have shown that this disorder is the leading cause of disability in North America; in the UK almost 3 million people are said to be diagnosed… and experts believe that as many as a further 9 million other cases may go undiagnosed. …However, such figures are not unanimously supported, as some experts believe that the diagnostic criteria… are not precise enough…
(C) Many of us may experience periods of low morale… Clinical depression is classified as an on-going state of negativity, with no tangible cause, where sufferers enter a spiral of persistent negative thinking, often experiencing irritability, perpetual tiredness and listlessness. Sufferers of clinical depression are said to be at higher risk of resorting to drug abuse or even suicide attempts than the rest of the population.
(D) Clinical depression is generally diagnosed when an individual is observed to exhibit an excessively depressed mood and/or ‘anhedonia’… in conjunction with five or more additional recognised symptoms…
(E) Clinical depression was originally solely attributed to chemical imbalance in the brain… Treatment approaches vary quite dramatically from place to place and are often tailored to an individual’s particular situation… The more controversial electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may also be used… In extreme cases… psychiatric hospitalisation may be necessary…
(F) …around a quarter of diagnosed clinical depression cases should actually be considered as… ordinary sadness…, indicating that in such cases, psychotherapy rather than treatment through medication is required. Recovery as a result of psychotherapy tends… to be a slower process… however, improvements… have been observed… to be more long term and sustainable… Sessions involve encouragement of an individual to view themselves… in a more positive manner… helping patients to replace negative thoughts with a more positive outlook.
(G) It is apparent that susceptibility to depression can run in families. However, it remains unclear as to whether this is truly an inherited genetic trait or whether biological and environmental factors… may be at the root of the problem…
Questions
Questions 1-5 (Locating Information) Which paragraph has the information below?
- Details of treatment alternatives for worst-case scenario depression.
- Information regarding cases where drug treatment is inappropriate.
- Details of how those diagnosed with depression may be more vulnerable than other members of society.
- Information about society’s attitudes to depression and similar illnesses.
- Information regarding why estimates of the incidence of future growth in cases may be overly exaggerated.
Questions 6-8 (Multiple Choice – True Statements) Choose THREE letters A-G. Which THREE of the following statements are true of depression?
A. Governments have generally failed to take action to educate the general public about the condition.
B. The highest reported number of cases is in the USA.
C. In Britain, it is likely that there are more individuals who live with the condition without the help of a doctor than those being officially treated.
D. Clinical depression may be triggered by divorce.
E. Lethargy may be one of the symptoms of depression.
F. Prescribed pharmaceuticals have radically changed over recent years.
G. Approaches to treating depression are not universal.
Questions 9-13 (Summary Completion) Complete the summary of paragraphs F and G with the list of words A-L below.
Whilst recovery through counselling rather than medicine may be more 9.__________ , results once achieved may have more 10. __________ with some patients. Counselling sessions are geared towards improving the subject’s relationship with others and their own 11.__________, encouraging sufferers of depression to take on a more 12. __________ outlook. The extent to which genetic disposition and sociological factors impact on state of mind is 13.__________. Many people undergoing counselling therapy do so with the purpose of unlearning negative behaviour and reactions.
Summary of the Reading Passage
The passage provides an overview of clinical depression.
- Definition and Social Perception: The article begins by highlighting the social stigma surrounding mental illness compared to physical illness.
- Statistics and Classification: Clinical depression is a serious disorder affecting a large portion of the population and is a leading cause of disability. However, statistics may be inaccurate due to imprecise diagnostic criteria.
- Symptoms and Risks: The article distinguishes between ordinary sadness and clinical depression, noting the symptoms and higher risks (substance abuse, suicide) faced by sufferers.
- Causes and Treatment: The causes of depression are complex, involving chemical, physiological, and psychosocial factors. Treatment approaches vary widely, from medication and psychotherapy to more intensive measures like ECT and hospitalization.
- Controversies and Genetics: The article discusses potential misdiagnosis and compares the long-term effectiveness of psychotherapy versus medication. Finally, it addresses the debate over the roles of genetics and environment in depression.
Key Vocabulary and Useful Structures
- Stigma (noun): A mark of disgrace or social disapproval.
- Unanimously (adverb): Without opposition; by common consent.
- Tangible (adjective): Perceptible by touch; clear and definite.
- Listlessness (noun): A state of lacking energy or enthusiasm.
- Anhedonia (noun): The inability to feel pleasure.
- In conjunction with (phrase): Together with; in combination with.
- Psychotherapy (noun): The treatment of mental disorder by psychological rather than medical means.
- Susceptibility (noun): The state of being likely to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.
Answer Key and Detailed Explanations
Questions 1-5
1. E
- Information needed: Alternative treatments for severe depression.
- Evidence (Paragraph E): “…In extreme cases… psychiatric hospitalisation may be necessary…”
- Explanation: Paragraph E describes treatment methods and mentions psychiatric hospitalization for “extreme cases.”
2. F
- Information needed: Cases where medication is inappropriate.
- Evidence (Paragraph F): “…in such cases, psychotherapy rather than treatment through medication is required.”
- Explanation: Paragraph F specifies cases where psychotherapy is preferred over medication.
3. C
- Information needed: How depression sufferers are more vulnerable.
- Evidence (Paragraph C): “Sufferers of clinical depression are said to be at higher risk of resorting to drug abuse or even suicide attempts than the rest of the population.”
- Explanation: “Higher risk” indicates they are more vulnerable than others.
4. A
- Information needed: Society’s attitude toward depression.
- Evidence (Paragraph A): “…there is often a stigma attached to being mentally ill…”
- Explanation: Paragraph A discusses the social “stigma” regarding mental illness.
5. B
- Information needed: Why growth estimates might be exaggerated.
- Evidence (Paragraph B): “…such figures are not unanimously supported, as some experts believe that the diagnostic criteria… are not precise enough…”
- Explanation: Paragraph B states that figures are not universally accepted because diagnostic criteria are not precise enough, leading to potential misclassification.
Questions 6-8
- Correct answers: C, E, G.
- C. TRUE: “In Britain, it is likely that there are more individuals who live with the condition without the help of a doctor than those being officially treated.”
- Evidence (Paragraph B): “…in the UK almost 3 million people are said to be diagnosed… and… a further 9 million other cases may go undiagnosed.”
- Explanation: 9 million (undiagnosed) is greater than 3 million (diagnosed).
E. TRUE: “Lethargy may be one of the symptoms of depression.”
- Evidence (Paragraph C): “…often experiencing irritability, perpetual tiredness and listlessness.”
- Explanation: “Listlessness” is a synonym for lethargy.
G. TRUE: “Approaches to treating depression are not universal.”
- Evidence (Paragraph E): “Treatment approaches vary quite dramatically from place to place and are often tailored to an individual’s particular situation…”
- Explanation: The fact that treatments “vary quite dramatically” shows they are not universal.
Questions 9-13
9. I. Gradual
- Evidence (Paragraph F): “…psychotherapy tends, in most cases, to be a slower process…”
- Explanation: A “slower process” is synonymous with “gradual.”
10. B. Longevity
- Evidence (Paragraph F): “…improvements… have been observed… to be more long term and sustainable…”
- Explanation: “Long term and sustainable” results imply longevity.
11. H. Self-image
- Evidence (Paragraph F): “…enhancing the subject’s ability to function on a personal and interpersonal level.”
- Explanation: Functioning on a “personal level” relates to one’s self-image.
12. D. Optimistic
- Evidence (Paragraph F): “…helping patients to replace negative thoughts with a more positive outlook.”
- Explanation: A “more positive outlook” is synonymous with being optimistic.
13. G. Inconclusive
- Evidence (Paragraph G): “…it remains unclear as to whether this is truly an inherited genetic trait…”
- Explanation: “Unclear” means the evidence is inconclusive.
Conclusion
The “Depression” passage is excellent practice for skills like Locating Information and Summary Completion. For Locating Information, skim the questions first to understand what you are looking for; this helps you read with a purpose and saves time. Hopefully, with these detailed analyses from ECE, you feel more confident and equipped with effective strategies to tackle complex social and medical reading passages.
For more IELTS Reading practice, check out these links:
Sydney Opera House IELTS Reading
Khai giảng Khóa học Hè cực HOT.
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