Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Depression causes feelings of anger, sadness and a loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) it is estimated that 8.1 percent of American adults ages 20 and over had depression in any given 2-week period. Estimated 10.4% of the women patients were almost twice as likely as to have had depression compared to men which was estimated at 5.5%. Some studies show that one-third of women will experience a major depressive episode in their lifetime. There is a high degree of heritability approximately 40% when first-degree relatives, parents/children/siblings have depression.
Around 80% of adults with depression reported at least some difficulty with work, home, and social activities because of their depression. Depression patients experience the disease in different ways. It may interfere with their daily work, resulting in lost time and lower productivity. It can also influence relationships and some chronic health conditions. More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn’t a weakness and you can’t simply “snap out” of it. Depression may require long-term treatment. Most patients with depression feel better with medication, psychotherapy or both.
Following are some of the diseases that can get worse in patients due to depression:
It’s important to realize that feeling down at times is a normal part of life. Sad and upsetting events happen to everyone. But, if you’re feeling down or hopeless on a regular basis (chronic depression or a major depressive disorder), you could be dealing with a serious condition. Depression is considered a serious medical condition that can get worse without proper treatment. Those who seek treatment often see improvements in symptoms in just a few weeks.
Types of Depression
Depression can be broken into two main categories depending on the severity of symptoms. Some patients experience mild and temporary episodes, while others experience severe and ongoing depressive episodes.
Following are the two main types of depression disorder:
Major Depressive Disorder
Major depressive disorder is the more severe form of depression. It’s characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness that don’t go away on their own. In order to be diagnosed with clinical depression, you must experience five or more of the following symptoms over a two weeks period:
- Feeling depressed most of the day
- Loss of interest in most regular activities
- Significant weight loss or gain
- Sleeping a lot or not being able to sleep (insomnia)
- Slowed thinking or movement
- Fatigue or low energy most of the time
- feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- loss of concentration or indecisiveness
- recurring thoughts of death or suicide
There are different subtypes of major depressive disorder, which the American Psychiatric Association refers to as “specifiers.” These include:
- Atypical features
- Anxious distress
- Mixed features
- Peripartum onset, during pregnancy or right after giving birth
- Seasonal patterns
- Melancholic features
- Psychotic features
- Catatonia
Persistent Depressive Disorder
Persistent depressive disorder (PDD) used to be called dysthymia. It’s a milder, but chronic, form of depression. In order for the diagnosis to be made, symptoms must last for at least two years. PDD can affect your life more than major depression because it lasts for a longer period.
Following are the common symptoms for patients with PDD to:
- Lose interest in normal daily activities
- Feel hopeless
- Lack productivity
- Have low self-esteem
Signs and Symptoms of Depression
Major depression can cause a variety of symptoms. Some affect your mood, and others affect your body. Symptoms may also be ongoing, or come and go. Symptoms of depression can be experienced differently among men, women, and children.
Following are the common signs and symptoms of depression:
- Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
- Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
- Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports
- Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much
- Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort
- Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain
- Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
- Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame
- Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
- Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
- Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches
Causes of Depression
There are several possible causes of depression, they can range from biological to circumstantial.
Following are the common causes of depression:
- Family history: Patients who have a family history of depression or another mood disorder are at a higher risk for developing depression.
- Early childhood trauma: Negative early events in life affect the way your body reacts to fear and stressful situations.
- Brain structure: If the frontal lobe of your brain is less active, there’s a greater risk for developing depression. However, scientists don’t know if this happens before or after the onset of depressive symptoms.
- Brain chemistry: Neurotransmitters are naturally occurring brain chemicals that likely play a role in depression. Recent research indicates that changes in the function and effect of these neurotransmitters and how they interact with neurocircuits involved in maintaining mood stability may play a significant role in depression and its treatment.
- Medical conditions: Certain conditions may put you at higher risk, such as chronic diseases, insomnia, chronic pain, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHS).
- Drug use: A history of drug or alcohol misuse can affect your risk.
- Hormones: Changes in the body’s balance of hormones may be involved in causing or triggering depression. Hormonal changes can result with pregnancy and during the weeks or months after delivery (postpartum) and from thyroid problems, menopause or a number of other conditions.
Around 21% of patients who have a substance abuse issues also experience depression. In addition to these causes, other risk factors for depression include:
- Low self-esteem or being self-critical
- Personal history of mental illness
- Certain medications
- Stressful events, such as loss of a loved one, economic problems, or a divorce.
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