A loss of interest or pleasure in daily work or activities, feeling down, sadness – these are symptoms very much familiar to all of us. But if it persists and affect your daily life heavily then it may be depression. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 7.6 percent of people over the age of 12 have depression in any 2-week period of time. This is significant and shows the scale of the issue. Additionally according to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is the most common illness worldwide and the leading cause of disability.
Facts on Depression:
- Depression seems to be more common problem among women than men.
- Depression symptoms include lack of joy and reduced interest in things that used to bring a person happiness.
- The reason of depression are not fully understood but are likely to be a complex combination of biological, genetic, environmental, and psychosocial factors.
Tests
Depression is a mood disorder characterized by insistently low mood and a feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It is a
persistent problem which lasts on an average of 6 to 8 months.
When a depressed person visits to a doctor, there may be a physical examination to check for physical causes and coexisting
conditions. Questions will also be asked – “taking a history” – to establish the symptoms, their time course, and so on. Some
questionnaires asked by doctors help them to assess the severity of depression. The Hamilton depression rating scale, for example, has 21 questions, with resulting scores describing the severity of the condition. This rating scale is one of the most widely used assessment instruments in the world.
Signs and symptoms
- depressed mood
- reduced interest or pleasure in activities previously enjoyed, loss of sexual desire
- unintentional weight loss
- insomnia or hypersomnia
- psychomotor agitation, for example, restlessness
- delayed psychomotor skills
- fatigue or loss of energy
- feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- impaired ability to think, concentrate or make decisions
- recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
Causes
The causes of depression are not fully understood. Depression is likely to be due to a complex combination of factors that include:
- genetics
- biological – changes in neurotransmitter levels
- environmental
- psychological and social (psychosocial)
Some people are at higher risk of depression than others; risk factors include:
- Life events: These include bereavement, divorce, work issues, relationships with friends and family, financial problems etc.
- Personality: Those with less successful coping strategies, or previous life trauma are more suceptible.
- Genetic factors: Having a first-degree relatives with depression increases the risk.
- Childhood trauma.
- Some prescription drugs: These include corticosteroids, some beta-blockers, interferon, and other prescription drugs.
- Abuse of recreational drugs: Abuse of alcohol, amphetamines, and other drugs are strongly linked to depression.
- A past head injury.
Treatment
Depression is a serious mental illness. There are three components to the management of depression:
Support, ranging from discussing practical solutions and contributing stresses, to educating family members.
Psychotherapy, also known as talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Drug treatment, specifically antidepressants.