Types of treatments for depression a large number of different treatments are available for depression and new treatments particularly medications regularly appear. Cognitive distortionsfaulty information processing core irrational beliefs which create a psychological vulnerability to depression. If the address matches an existing account you will receive an email with instructions to reset your password. Although brain chemicals are certainly part of the cause, this explanation is too simple. It causes prolonged feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness, and a loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed. It seeks to demonstrate the shortcomings of correlating highly sophisticated biological research with simple and questionable dsm diagnoses of depression. Feb 03, 2009 nearly 1 in 5 people will experience a major depressive episode at some point in their lives. Depression in children, adolescents, and teens increases risk for suicide. Treatment for depression and related disorders is essential. Our understanding of the causes of depression is evolving. Biological causes of clinical depression continue to be studied extensively. Continuing research means that the evidence for how well a treatment works is always changing too.
We are now going to have a brief discussion of the many biological, psychological and social factors that have been identified as being related to major depressive disorder. Depression can be more debilitating than many of us realize. Some people experience depression during a serious medical illness. The good news is that most people who are treated for depression experience a complete recovery. Etiology of depression an overview sciencedirect topics. Among the biological factors that contribute to depression in later life are vascular lesions in the subcortical areas of the brain. Rather, there are many possible causes of depression, including faulty mood regulation by the brain, genetic vulnerability, stressful life events, medications, and medical problems. The causes and effects of depression essay 709 words bartleby. The etiology of depression depression in parents, parenting, and. The course of an episode of major depressive disorder is predictable, and there are many treatments that address different aspects of the illness and, in the vast majority of cases, produce a positive effect. The etiology of depression is still not well understood.
Still, like the stock market crash, protectionist trade policies alone did not cause the great depression. It can be triggered by a life crisis, physical illness or something elsebut it can also occur spontaneously. You may have heard that depression is the result of a simple imbalance of brain chemicals. Great progress has been made in the understanding of brain function, the influence of neurotransmitters and hormones, and other biological processes, as well as how they may relate to the development of depression. Some of the known causes of depression which can have a genetic component or origin include. A careful medical workup is also essential to rule out other potential causes for how you are feeling, make an accurate diagnosis and start a treatment program, which will help you get better. There are multiple causes of depression in any combination. Each disorder has its own causes and its own emotional and behavioral symptoms. Depression is a disorder affecting mood and general outlook. This paper looks at the factors that caused the depression and examines the impact they had on three major economies of europe, those of britain, france and germany. Fewer than 25 % of those affected have access to effective treatments. Causes of depression causes of depression have you ever. Finally, we discuss diseasespecificities and aetiological factors implicated in affected biological modules. Depression can be reliably diagnosed in primary care.
Depression can occur along with other serious illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and parkinsons disease. Research suggests that depression doesnt spring from simply having too much or too little of certain brain chemicals. When people experience trauma at an early age, it can cause longterm changes in how their brains respond to. Each type of depression is associated with different mixtures of causes.
Scientists at nimh and across the country are studying the causes of depression. Psychotic depression, which occurs when a severe depressive illness is accompanied by some form of psychosis, such as a break with reality, hallucinations, and delusions. Autopsy evidence suggests that people with depression who experienced longterm stress and then went on to commit suicide showed reduced formation of new neurons in the hippocampus. Clinical depression consists of a group of disorders with various causes. Scientists believe several factors can contribute to depression. Webmd explains what research has discovered about the causes of depression from genetics to illnesses and medications to major life events. Biological causes of depression all about depression. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. The word depression is commonly used to describe the feelings of sadness that all of us experience at times in our lives.
Causes depression is most likely due to a combination of. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Also he found that by far the most common cause of maladaptive anxiety was social anxiety. Self help for depression do you find that your mood is low for large periods of the day and you generally feel down in the dumps. However, response to antidepressants is not by itself proof that an imbalance of brain chemicals causes depression.
Even just considering the biological dimension of depression, the brain has multiple layers of issues that are involved. It gives a definition of depression, then looks at these models to provide an idea of what causes the disorder. Consequently, the treatment profile is also diversified. There is simply no unifying theory that can explain all clinical depression, likely because of the heterogeneity of the depressive syndromes and diagnostic criteria that rely heavily. Biological factors the biological factors that might have some effect on depression include. It is also a term used to describe a number of diagnosable depressive disorders. Genetic factors depression often runs in families, which suggests that individuals may inherit genes that make them vulnerable to developing depression. Neurobiological mechanisms in major depressive disorder. Depression is among the leading causes of disability worldwide. The wrap up depression is a chronic mental disorder that affects all areas of an individuals life. Therefore, it is crucial to see a health professional as soon as you notice symptoms of depression in yourself, your friends, or family. Biology of depression neurotransmitters depression. Despite the prevalence and costly consequences of depression, there are still no validated, diagnostically useful biological tests to aid in the diagnosis of this. On the other hand, 17 to 27 per cent of people with heart disease and 22 to 29 per cent of.
Nov 27, 2016 some of the known causes of depression which can have a genetic component or origin include. The great depression was a worldwide phenomenon, and the collapse of international trade was even greater than the collapse of world output of goods and services. Do you find that your confidence is low and you generally have a poor opinion of. The first historical understanding of depression was that depression was a spiritual or mental illness rather than a physical one. Nearly 1 in 5 people will experience a major depressive episode at some point in their lives.
Major depressive disorder may be caused by the cumulative effects of these 3. The impact of depression on daily life quality of life. Causes of depression although scientists agree that depression is a brain disorder, the debate continues about exact causes. Biology of depression neurotransmitters rashmi nemade, ph. This commentary presents a clinicians view of biological research into depression. The biological factors that might have some effect on depression include. At this time, nothing was known of the circadian clock genes in humans, but a role for circadian phase and period disturbances in recurrent depression had been hypothesized 3,4, and evidence was increasing for a large genetic component in both unipolar and bipolar depression 5. Interestingly objective testing may be able to determine if patients fall into those five types. Many people who develop depression have a history of an anxiety disorder earlier in life. In such cases the specific causes of the maladaptive anxiety are not as obviously apparent but can just as certainly be determined. Biology of depression psychoneuroimmunology depression. The impact of biological factors seems to be more prominent in major depressive syndrome, where typical symptoms and signs such as. Its often used to describe a temporary feeling, feelings on a.
This factsheet provides a basic description of depression, its symptoms and the treatments and support options available. Critically evaluate theories of causation of depression. Hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones, is also known to cause depression in some people. Many factors may contribute to the onset of depression, including genetic characteristics, changes in hormone levels, certain medical illnesses, stress, grief, or substance abuse. Certain biological, environmental, and personal factors have also been associated with the protection from or the overcoming of risk factors and adverse conditions. Biological, psychosocial, and spiritual dimensions and. Signs and symptoms of depression 2 close family members who have experienced depression. It gives a definition of depression, then looks at these models to provide an idea of. According to the world health organization who, depression is now the fourth leading cause of disability in the world, and it has been estimated that by 2020. Depression also known as major depression or major depressive disorder is a psychiatric disorder that affects mood, behavior, and overall health. Typically these are conditional beliefs such as im worthwhile if im loved or if i am achieving adequately. Biological aspects of depression wiley online library. After one episode of depression, a child is at risk for developing another within five years, which may predict more severe illness as an adult.
This fact sheet provides a brief summary of available treatments for depression. Perhaps you have been diagnosed with major depression, and thats made you question why some people get depressed while others dont. The biological reasons are associated with disorders at the. This isnt a guarantee, of course, and minimizing other depression causes can help negate heredity. To answer it, aaron beck sifted through thousands of clinical and controlled studies and summarized representative research on the clinical, biological, psychological, and theoretical. Postnatal depression many mothers have the baby blues soon after the birth of their baby, but it usually passes after a day or two. A more recent line of research suggests that stress causes a decline in the rate of formation of new neurons in the part of the brain known as the hippocampus. Fundamentally, such depressive symptoms as sad mood, pessimism, and lethargy, are universal human experiences and are considered normal reactions to the struggles, disappointments, and losses of everyday life. Postnatal depression is a much more serious problem and can occur any time between two weeks and two years after the birth. It is impossible to point to one cause of depression because it is a disease conditioned by. Depression can be reliably diagnosed and treated in primary care.
Research suggests that a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors play a role in depression. According to the national institute of mental health, recent brainimaging research has shown that, in depression, some of the brain circuits responsible for mood, sleep. Critically evaluate theories of causation of depression this essay explores two of the main theories of causation of depression, which are the cognitive model and the biological model. Other experts offer different explanations for the great depression. The debate over causes chapter three 36 special problems of depression in teens chapter four 56 treating depression chapter five 77 alternative treatments notes 95 organizations to contact 98 suggestions for further reading 101 works consulted 103 index 107 picture credits 112 about the author 112 teen depression front 3104 1. According to the national institute of mental health, recent brainimaging research has shown that, in depression, some of. Many factors may contribute to the onset of depression, including genetic characteristics, changes in hormone levels, certain medical illnesses, stress, grief, or substance abuse 20,4074. Depression is a commonly used word, often used by or about people to describe a particular feeling. Causes of depression have you ever wondered what causes clinical depression. Depression can result in an increase or a decrease in appetite, overeating for emotional comfort, or feeling too tired to plan and fix healthy meals and snacks. Ancient greeks and romans were divided in their thinking about the causes of. Mental insight foundation a production of national outreach partner major funding by additional funding by public television viewers part of community partner depression facts causes of depression.
Because feelings of depression are so common, it is important to understand the difference between. Great depression university of california, berkeley. Besides psychosocial stressors, genetic vulnerabilities also contribute to neurophysiological alteration of brain function leading to clinical symptoms of depression akiskal 11617. Abstract depression is one of the most pervasive disorders and a leading cause of disability worldwide. The causes and effects of depression depression has numerous causes and effects which affect not only the person but the people around them. Depression symptoms, causes, medications and therapies.
Biological substrates underpinning diagnosis of major depression. There is no evidence one disorder causes the other, but there is clear evidence that many people suffer from both disorders. Depression is diagnosed only clinically in that there is no laboratory test or xray for depression. Factors involved in developing depression key points to remember where to get more information introduction unlike other illnesses or disorders, there is no simple explanation as to what causes depression. What is a depressive disorder department of health. Depression 2 causes of depression depression is a brain disorder characterized by changes in certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Has your motivation to do things you previously enjoyed decreased. Depression is common, affecting about 121 million people worldwide. People with depression are two times more likely to have a stroke and 1.
Among the biological factors that contribute to depression in later life are vascular lesions in the. Both under and overeating can lead to poor nutritional status, which can affect mental health. Causes of the great depression the fundamental cause of the great depression in the united states was a decline in spending sometimes referred to as aggregate demand, which led to a decline in production as. A separate class of physicians treated physical injuries, but not conditions like depression. The first edition of this book posed the question, what has definitely been established regarding the nature, the causes, and the treatment of depression. Depression can be both a cause and an effect of physical illness. Infowhat causes depression centre for clinical interventions. Major depressive disorder is one form of depressive illness, or mood. While a single, definitive culprit has yet to be discovered, researchers have identified multiple factors that can lead to depression. Find the cure by finding the cause depression is a medical illness that involves your thoughts, mood, and body.
It can devastate family relationships if the your loved ones dont understand what you are going through. There is also some evidence that having your hormones out of balance can contribute to depression. Postpartum depression, which is diagnosed if a new mother develops a major depressive episode within one month after delivery. A loss of interest in activities or feeling sad and down are symptoms that characterize this condition. Imbalances of carbohydrate, fat and protein are linked to depression. Medical conditions and the medications use to treat them can be causes of depression. Biological, psychosocial, and spiritual dimensions and treatment abdulmissagh ghadirian, m. A recent study tried to find the most common causes and zeroed in on five of them. On the other hand, 17 to 27 per cent of people with heart disease and 22 to 29 per cent of people with cancer develop depression mdsc, 20. Although scientists agree that depression is a brain disorder, the debate continues about exact causes.