DEFINITION

Depression is a mental illness characterized by an extremely low mood, low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities.

CAUSES

There are a number of factors that can cause depression. In most of the cases, depression is caused by a biochemical imbalance in the brain that cannot be controlled by the individual patients without outside intervention. The three neurotransmitters involved are norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. You can be born prone to depression if you have a family history of depression or have defective genes. Sometimes, depression occurs to people accompanying certain medical illnesses. Beware of certain medications that you are on because a number of them can cause depression. Another example of biological factors is hormonal changes which occur at certain times during your life.

In addition to biological factors, psychological factors can also be a trigger. When under stress, psychological vulnerability can be one cause of depression. One example is a specific, distressing life event. Your attitudes have an effect on your mood and therefore, a negative or pessimistic view of life is likely to trigger depression. Substance abuse can lead to depression, so be careful of alcohol and drug consumption. Please note that many depressive episodes can occur without a cause and are not triggered by any of the aforementioned risk factors.

SYMPTOMS

Some signs and symptoms of depression are:

  • Feeling sad or anxious
  • Feeling hopeless or pessimistic
  • Loss of interest in activities
  • Fatigue and decreased energy
  • Insomnia
  • Usually good or bad appetite
  • Suicide thoughts or attempts
  • Chronic headaches, back, chest, muscle or joint pain

TREATMENTS

Depression is easier to treat as compared to other more severe mental disorders. The majority of people with depression can be effectively treated and are able to function normally in the usually everyday activities. The three most common types of treatments are medications, psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

The medications used for treating depression are called antidepressants. They interact with brain chemicals called neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. These neurotransmitters are involved in the process of regulating mood and antidepressants can correct the biochemical imbalances in these neurotransmitters to cure depression. When using medication, remember to wait for several weeks for the medications to have an effect and 2-3 months for the medications to have their full effects.

Medications alone is not enough, psychotherapy should be used to complement medications. Two common psychotherapies are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT). Psychotherapies can help patients alter their behaviors that have contributed to their depression, improve their troubled personal relationships, and adopt a new life style that promotes emotional well-being. Support from loved ones can make a big difference in patients’ recovery and can accelerate the recovering process. It is important to educate the patients and their families that depression it not something to be ashamed of and do not stop seeking treatments because of the negative attitudes held by the society.

REFERENCES

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_depressive_disorder#Biological

http://www.camh.ca/About_Addiction_Mental_Health/AMH101/top_searched_depression.html

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml

http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=Depression

http://keltymentalhealth.ca/mental-health/disorders/depression#view-tabs-1

http://www.cmha.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=3-86-87&lang=1