Roeterseilandcampus - Building G, Street: Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-b, Room: GS.01
Mood disorders are a group of conditions characterized by disturbed mood, with Major Depression Disorder (MDD) and Bipolar Disorder (BD) being the most prevalent ones. While in 2016, Cramer et al. proposed a complex dynamical model of MDD with two states — healthy (0) and depressed (1) —, the interpretation of this model poses several inconsistencies. Consequentially, this study entails using a different model, namely a Blume-Capel-like model (BC), with three states (-1,0 & 1) to integrate both MDD and BD into a single framework. To this end, a literature review will be conducted to conceptually evaluate whether the dynamic of the BC model fits BD and MDD. Second, the BC model will be verified by reproducing the original phase diagram through simulations and extending it with the external field. Additionally, specific mood states, such as depression, will be simulated. The theoretical interpretation of the model parameters will be discussed.