Depression

Clinical depression is a state of sadness, melancholia or despair that has advanced to the point of being disruptive to an individual's social functioning and/or activities of daily living. Although a low mood or state of dejection that does not affect functioning is often referred to as depression, clinical depression is a medical diagnosis and is different from the everyday meaning of "being depressed".

Everyone will face occasional sadness. This fundamental process in human emotion is our response to the multitude of mental, physical, genetic, and environmental influences we face throughout our lives. Feeling 'down' for short periods of time is normal. However, for some, sadness can begin to overwhelm their lives. It can last several weeks or longer and may start to affect normal, day-to-day activity. When this occurs, this prolonged and abnormal variation of mood is labelled as Depression.

Depression is often called the invisible disease. It's a condition that does not cause any visible signs of a problem, and usually surfaces without any known physical or external cause. What's more, people coping with mild, moderate, or even severe depression, are seemingly apprehensive and afraid to talk about the emotions they are feeling. They may interpret their hopelessness or unhappiness as a sign of personal weakness; content with living miserably rather than bothering someone who cares and may be able to help.

Its shocking to think that depression often goes untreated, as specialist suggest that some 80 to 90 percent of all cases can be helped by conventional or alternative treatments. Even more startling is how common depression truly is. It is estimated that 1 in 10 adults will experience a period of depression this year.

Depression, At A Glance:

Clinically diagnosed depression can be described as sadness, hopeless, malaise, or despair that has progressed to the point of interrupting the abilities of an individual to complete or effectively engage in day-to-day activities and normal social functioning. "Low" moods or states of dejection are often considered to be moderate depression as well.

Many theories have been proposed as to what actually causes depression. The long standing theory that chemical imbalances are the main cause is still plausible, but has been facing much scrutiny within the last decade. Whatever its origin, 16% of the population will experience depression at least once in their lifetime. Some 100 million Americans battle depression on a daily basis.

Depression Symptoms

The symptoms of depression vary greatly, and are largely dependent upon the individual. However, alterations to one’s normal feeling of well being, loss of interest and enjoyment in various activities, reduced energy levels, as well as any two symptoms listed below, is considered standard for the diagnosis of a mild to moderate form of this condition. Symptoms must also exist for a minimum duration of no less than two weeks.

Depressive symptoms as defined by the American Psychiatric Association include:

• Physical hyperactivity or inactivity;
• Sexual Problems;
• Loss of appetite accompanied by weight loss, or increased appetite accompanied by weight gain;
• Reduced concentration and attention;
• Reduced self-esteem and self-confidence;
• Ideas of guilt and unworthiness (even in a mild type of episode);
• Bleak and pessimistic views of the future;
• Digestive Problems;
• Ideas or acts of self-harm or suicide;
• Insomnia or excessive sleep habits;

Depression Cause

Researchers have yet to find one definitive cause for depression onset. It is likely that several factors are at play. Again, these vary from individual to individual and may include.

1. Alcohol and other drugs: Alcohol, benzodiazepine-based tranquilizers, and sleep medications have a high addictive potential and their misuse is coupled with negative effects on mood. As well, marijuana use has been associated with an increased risk of depression and anxiety in users after quitting.

2. Dietary Factors: Nutritional deficiencies have been directly linked to depression.

3. Genetic Predisposition: depression may be inherited./

4. Physiology: Many scientists believe that the primary cause of depression lies within changes or imbalances to neurotransmitters. These chemicals, produced in the brain, are responsible for transmitting signals across the body and are responsible for processes relating to mood.

5. Postpartum depression: Most women experience significant mood changes after birth and can become severely depressed.

6. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): SAD is a depressive disorder that coincides with the changing of the seasons; primarily in the winter when daylight hours are short.

7. Traumatic Life Experiences: This can include; job loss, death of a loved one, childhood abandonment, physical and emotional neglect, chronic illness, financial difficulties, divorce, and physical, psychological, or emotional abuse. Such experiences have been shown to cause immediate psychological trauma, or future depressive episodes. Post-traumatic stress disorder is included within this category.

8. Underlying Medical Conditions: Certain illnesses, including hypothyroidism, cardiovascular disease, hepatitis, and organic brain damage caused by certain cognitive disorders (e.g. Parkinson’s disease) may contribute to depression.

Quick Facts:

• The mean age of condition onset is in the mid to later 20’s.
• Pre-menopausal women are twice as likely as men to be clinically diagnosed with depression.
• Men are more likely to suffer from depression after the age of 55.
• Clinical depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S.
• depression is four times more likely to affect the elderly than the young.

Conventional Treatments of Depression

Conventional treatments are aimed at treating the individual with medications, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two. Less common is electroconvulsive shock therapy (ECT) and light therapy. As far as medications are concerns, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are considered to be the current standard in drug treatments and are usually the first option tried by physicians.

It is thought that one primary cause of depression is an inadequate supply of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a monoamine neurotransmitter that is believed to play an important role in the regulation of mood, sleep, sexuality, and appetite. SSRIs work by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin by nerve cells in the brain, thus maintaining and improving levels of this neurotransmitters in the brain for effective functioning. Other medications such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and tricyclic antidepressants are usually reserved for the most severe cases of depression.

Psychotherapy refers to a set of techniques used by mental health specialists to improve mental health. In the case of depression, psychotherapy is employed to improve the emotional or behavioral issues of the individual, so that he/she may be able to solve problems with newly learned coping mechanisms. How well these treatments work depends upon individual, as well as the type, severity, and duration of the depressive episode.