Studies have shown that levels of depression among those diagnosed

Question

Studies have shown that levels of depression among those diagnosed with clinical depression actually increase in the springtime. The results of the studies were no different for subjects who spent most of their days outdoors than for those who stayed indoors. Researchers, once baffled by this finding, now hypothesize that seasonal changes in the mental health of the most severely depressed can be based on more than exposure to light.

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the researchers' hypothesis?

A. The same subjects evidence no change in mental health in the autumn when the amount of light is equivalent to that in spring.

B. As all people inherently believe that their health will improve in the spring, the unrealized expectation of improved health will often lead the most depressed to an even deeper level of depression.

C. Healthy subjects report feeling more alert and happy in the springtime as compared with the winter.

D. Seasonal-affective disorder (SAD) affects nearly one in ten people and can seriously interfere with an individual's work schedule and lifestyle habits.

E. Other scientists have demonstrated how over-exposure to sunshine can deplete the brain of the neurochemical seratonin and result in higher levels of depression.

sony1000 · Answer

B does not mention light yet it is right.

suchithra · Answer

P1 : Depression increases during spring. P2 : Depression same indoor and outdoors. 
Conclusion : Depression therefore doesnt not depend on only exposure. I.e there is more than one cause for the effect.

Pre-thinking : Statement citing any other cause for the effect.

Therefore Answer B is right.

Prashant10692 · Answer

Could anyone explain why is E wrong?

hellosanthosh2k2 · Answer

is n't E a weakener?

Argument trying to say another cause for the effect (depression), but E -> Other scientists say more exposure to light -> depression.

nightblade354 · Answer

Hi  Prashant10692 ,

As explained in the post above this one, E weakens the author's point because it supports the idea that light is the main factor. We are looking for an alternative explanation, and B gives us that answer.

Studies have shown that levels of depression among those diagnosed with clinical depression actually increase in the springtime. The results of the studies were no different for subjects who spent most of their days outdoors than for those who stayed indoors. Researchers, once baffled by this finding, now  hypothesize that seasonal changes in the mental health of the most severely depressed can be based on   more than exposure to light  .

Does this help?

Helium · Answer

The author concludes that increased depression in the springtime among the most severely depressed patients has a cause other than exposure to light. The evidence is a study that found depression worsened in the spring with no change in depression level between people who were outdoors or indoors.

Predict the Answer:

The author never suggests what might be the cause, so is assuming there's another cause that has no connection to light exposure. The correct answer will be anything that makes the Assumption more likely. Look for a choice that indicates there may be a cause other than light for the springtime depression.

Evaluate the Answers:

(B) is correct. It strengthens the idea that light is not the cause by suggesting an alternate cause: unmet health expectations.

(A) is irrelevant. It focuses on light, but the conclusion indicates there is a cause other than light.

(C) is irrelevant as it focused on healthy subjects, not depressed ones.

(D) is irrelevant since it describes a particular condition but does not address the cause of that condition.

(E) weakens the conclusion by offering a possible explanation for worsening mental health in the spring based on exposure to light.

beebuzz0504 · Answer

Can someone explain why A is wrong?

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   Never give up ,great things take time

manjot123 · Answer

seasonal changes in the mental health of the most severely depressed can be based on more than exposure to light.
we have to strengthen this and only b tells that there there is another reason other than light.

manjot123 · Answer

mikemcgarry

HasnainAfxal · Answer

The question is about strengthen the argument but this option is opposite and weakens the argument...This option is stating that exposure to light is the cause of depression but in conclusion author mentioned that there are other causes of depression but not sunlight
I hope its clear

Sarjaria84 · Answer

Option 'A' again iterates that the depression is caused by light, whereas the hypothesis says that there's something other than exposure to light that is causing seasonal depression.

Therefore the answer which says anyother reason apart from light will be correct.

Hope this helped !

Saurabh

Posted from my mobile device

Turkish · Answer

Have to be very careful when one is reading a CR passage.

Here the last line says " most severely depressed  can be based on more than  exposure to light"

A kinda strengthens it says " The same subjects evidence no change in mental health in the autumn when the amount of light is equivalent to that in spring" but B is better

as it says As all people inherently believe that their health will improve in the spring, the unrealized expectation of improved health will often lead the most depressed to an even deeper level of depression" gives a alternate reason.

yashsharma1 · Answer

IMO, A just provides the same information again. Researchers already believe that there are factors other than light at play for changes (or rather worsening) in depression of patients. Option A says that yeah, in autumn, patients show no changes with the same light as spring. What can I conclusde from this? That light plays no role in worsening of condition which is kind of already evident from the fact that patients who went out vs who did not go out show the same degradation in depression.

B on the other hand gives another reason why spring might make depression worse and hence seems to be the correct answer
This was my thought process

B on the other hand gives another reason why spring might make depression worse and hence seems to be the correct answer
This was my thought process

Studies have shown that levels of depression among those diagnosed

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Studies have shown that levels of depression among those diagnosed

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