Depression is a debilitating mental disorder, which can be detrimental to a person's lifestyle. For example, depression can cause an individual to have negative thoughts, experience chronic distress, and hopelessness (Pourbabaee, n.d.). Researchers focus on two causes of depression. Those who advocate the cognitive-behavioral perspective believe that depression results from faulty thoughts associated with low self-esteem or learned helplessness, as well as from environmental influences such as the loss of a loved one or a job. While those who support the biological perspective believe that depression results from the genes a person inherits, chemical imbalances that change the brain's functions, as well as damage to the brain's anatomy. In addition to these two perspectives, some believe that neither perspective alone causes depression, but that a combination of both influences the onset of the debilitating disorder. This article will address the biological issues that lead to depression. For example, does depression run in families? Do chemical imbalances cause depression? If so, do antidepressants alone help reduce the symptoms of depression? Do chemical imbalances change brain function? In addition to these questions, does damage to the brain's anatomy cause depression? If so, what type of injury and in which damaged brain regions affects emotional stability, how can a depressed person suffer? The evidence provided in this article will demonstrate that biological factors or influences take place before cognitive-behavioral factors or influences come into play (with the exception of damage to the anatomy of the brain). Hereditary Genes From the moment of conception, everyone receives.. .... half of the sheet ......ications. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 38(4), 411-420. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.38.4.411 Mayo Clinic (2008). Understanding brain injury: A guide for families. Retrieved August 20, 2011, from http://mayoresearch.mayo.edu/mayo/research/tbims/upload/ubi_families.pdfNIMH, (1998). Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. Retrieved August 24, 2011, from http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter2/sec3.htmlPourbabaee, K., (n.d.). Brain chemistry/function and female depression. Retrieved August 25, 2011, from http://www.isacalls.com/A+Isagenix%20BRAIN%20CHEMISTRYDepression.pdfSullivan, P. F., Neale, M. C., & Kendler, K. S. (2000). Genetic epidemiology of major depression: review and meta-analysis. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 157(10), 1552-1552-62. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/220490513?accountid=27965