Depression, clinically defined is a persistent low mood, characterized by a loss of interest in the usual activities and disability to experience pleasure. We usually use the term “depression” to describe the temporary feeling of “blue” that we experience. But the fact is, the clinical depression is often serious and might be disabling, affecting the person’s social and personal life. People suffering from depression tend to suffer from a higher mortality rate from other ailments, while the cases of suicides are also high.

It is usually noticed that depression cases are most observed amongst retired and aged people, when factors like death of fellow peers, illnesses and loss of mobility may trigger depression.

Causes of Depression

The causes for depression may be divided into two categories for easy demarcation -- Physiological and Sociological factors.

Physiological factors can be sub-divided further -- The tendency to develop depression may be genetic. Depression can also be due to neurological disorders. When the brain experiences a shortage of neuro-transmitters or neurons, depressive tendency along with impaired memory and dysthemic mood is formed.

At other times, medical condition also serves as a tool to form depression. Certain illnesses like hepatitis, cardiovascular diseases, chronic pain etc become major factors in inducing depression.

Usage of room fresheners and aerosols along with the dampness or mold in the house may also lead to a feeling of depression. Poor, imbalanced diet, which does not provide one with enough nutrients and calories, may also lead to depression.

Alcohol, due to the presence of ethanol which is a depressant, may also prove devastating in inducing severe depression. Poor sleep; winters (which trigger Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)) are some other physiological factors.

Sociological factors include psychological disorders like low self-esteem, self destructing thoughts etc, which lead to depression. At times early experiences like death of parents, problems at school, abandonment or rejection, illnesses, problems in physical development, psychological or sexual abuse in childhood, might cause a person to be depressed.

Also life experiences and circumstances like divorce, financial difficulties, health problems, eating disorders, grief over death of a beloved, unemployment, loss of religious faith, rape, trauma etc may all lead to a depressive state of mind.

Types of Depression

There are various types of depression and anxiety like a depression with melancholic features (loss of pleasure), depression with atypical features (mood reactivity), depression with psychotic features (hallucinations or delusions), dysthymia (mild, persistent depression), bipolar disorder (alternating states of mania, hypomania and depression), postnatal depression (after childbirth), recurrent brief depression (RBD) etc.

Meanwhile there are various forms of anxiety as well -- agitate depression (restlessness), apathetic depression (suicidal) and hypomania (over activity, elevated mood, euphoria etc).

Symptoms of Depression

There are various symptom of depression like persistent sad, empty mood, anxiety, loss of appetite or overeating, weight loss or weight gain, insomnia or oversleeping, restlessness, psychomotor agitation, feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, pessimism, difficulty in remembering, thinking or concentrating, suicidal thoughts, loss of interest in hobbies, withdrawal from society, fatigue, persistent aches and physical symptoms etc. Not every patient will tend to display the symptoms mentioned above at the same time. Also, the symptoms shown by the old differ from those shown by the young. Depression is treatable, though there are cases of chronic depression as well.

Depression Treatment

The treatment for depression not only includes medications, but also psycho-therapy, psycho-treatment given to the patient. Together, the two help in treating the depression successfully.

Anti-depressant drugs like tricyclic antidepressant imipramine help one to restore the balance of neuro-transmitters in the brain and thus solving the problem. While it is easier for the anti-depressant medicines to work on the young people, it takes longer for the older people to respond to the treatment prescribed.

Meanwhile, dealing with social isolation amongst the patients may dramatically improve the patient’s conditions. One can use the self-help remedies, but one should always beware of the interactions and the medicines you take. One must always consult a doctor before trying any remedy.

Prognosis

Depression affects 8%-7% of the population. Women tend to suffer more from depression than men, just as older people are more prone to depression than the young. Depression might recur if the treatment is not successful and the disease has not completely remitted.

A depression can either be a one-time instance or a recurring one; it can develop gradually or suddenly; it can either last a life-time or might have a life-cycle of just a few months or days . Whatever form it is diagnosed depression is a malady that cannot be underestimated and one needs to take proper action to counter its harmful effects.

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