Depression

Depression Basics

Depression is a mental health illness that affects one in 10 Americans.More than just feeling down, clinical depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness that don’t go away on their own. It is essential to recognize that feeling down on occasion is a normal – and important – part of life. Sad and distressful events occur in everyone’s life, and responding to them emotionally is healthy. However, feeling miserable consistently and without any sense of hope is not normal, and should be treated as a serious medical condition.

People experience depression in different ways. It can often interfere with a person’s daily responsibilities and relationships. Left untreated, the condition may last for months or years and often becomes worse. However, depression is a treatable medical condition, and those who seek treatment often see improvements in their symptoms.

Main Types of Depression

Major depression is a severe form of depression that typically affects a person repeatedly throughout their lifetime, although isolated cases can occur. Symptoms of major depression include:

• Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness
• Weight fluctuations
• Changes in appetite
• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Chronic physical ailments
• Poor sleep
• Suicidal thoughts

Dysthymia is a more subtle depressive illness, characterized by chronic low level depression. It is typically less debilitating than major depression, although some people with dysthymia do eventually experience episodes of major depression. Symptoms of dysthymia are the same as those in major depression, though less severe, and often first appear in childhood or early adulthood.

Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, is typified by cycling periods of mania and depression. The changes in mood can be rapid, though the shift is usually gradual. During the depressed phase, a person can display any or all of the symptoms associated with major depression. While in the manic phase, the person often experiences over-activeness, extreme elation, and racing thoughts. These symptoms may affect decision making and judgement.

Other Types of Depression

In addition to the three main classifications of depression, certain sub-types possess their own unique causes or symptoms.

Postpartum depression affects approximately 10-15% of women after they give birth. Fluctuating hormones, coupled with physical and mental stress, are the main cause of depressive symptoms in these women.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) typically triggers depression during the winter months when people have less exposure to natural sunlight. Light therapy helps lessen depressive symptoms for some sufferers of SAD.

Psychotic depression includes severe bouts of depression coupled with signs of psychosis, such as delusions, hallucinations, and false beliefs, which are often associated with the person's depression.

How is Depression Diagnosed and Treated?

Only a trained mental health specialist can diagnose any of the different types of depression. Often, a physical exam is administered to rule out any other medical issue, such as a thyroid disorder, that could be mimicking symptoms of depression. Specific types of depression are diagnosed based on thorough psychological evaluations, which include a detailed history of symptoms. Tests such as the Beck Depression Inventory and Hamilton Depression Scale can assist a specialist in making an accurate diagnosis.

Depression often continues if left untreated. Intervention may include medication to regulate chemicals in the brain, talk therapy, or a combination of the two. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), sometimes referred to as "shock therapy," uses electrical stimulation in the brain to help treat chronic depression that has proven resistant to the more conventional means of treatment. 

Causes of Depression

If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, it’s normal to want to know where it comes from and what causes it. The truth is that depression is a complex medical condition that is still not completely understood. The good news is that medical professionals know enough about it to be able to help alleviate symptoms in people who are going through depression. Rather than a single factor, a combination of biochemical, psychological, genetic, and environmental factors is believed to cause depression.

Genetic

Depression can occur in people with no family history of the disease. However, there does appear to be some genetic link to depression. Having an immediate family member with depression can increase your risk. Studies of identical twins who were raised in separate homes showed that when one twin was diagnosed with depression, the other twin developed the same disorder 67 percent of the time

Environmental/Psychological

The brain is highly malleable and constantly changing in response to its experiences. That’s in part why scientists believe depression is a product of both our genes and our environment. Traumatic life events, such as the loss of a loved one, distressing financial situations, or big changes like a move can all potentially trigger symptoms of depression.