What Causes Depression?

What Causes Depression?

No-one’s yet figured out the answer. What we do know is:
• Everyone is born with a certain vulnerability to depressive illness, which seems to be genetically determined. You are two to three times as likely to suffer depression if someone else in your family does.
• Depending on your vulnerability, different life circumstances or events can trigger depression (though some people are so vulnerable it can happen with no trigger).
• Very definite and measurable physical changes occur in depressed people. These are related to problems with levels of brain hormones or neurotransmitters. People who are depressed and commit suicide, for example, have measurable differences in their neurotransmitter systems compared to people dying from other causes.
• Some medical conditions are associated with depression: under-active thyroid, connective tissue disorders, and illnesses affecting the brain or levels of cortisone in the body.
• Some medications can cause depression: painkillers, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics and anti-fungals, blood pressure and heart tablets, hormone medications (such as contraceptive injections), diet tablets, cortisone tablets, and ulcer, bladder and migraine tablets.
What are the symptoms?
1. Overwhelming feelings of sadness and grief (life’s just not worth living)*
2. Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities*
3. Sleeping more or less*
4. Losing or gaining weight*
5. Total loss of energy*
6. Feeling worthless or excessively guilty*
7. Difficulty making decisions*
8. Doing everything more slowly*
9. Suicidal thoughts*
10. Feeling restless*
11. No motivation
12. Increased crying
13. Loss of libido
14. Difficulty concentrating, organising your thoughts.
Over the past two-weeks, if you’ve experienced five of the asterisked symptoms including 1 and 2, then you are probably suffering from depression.

Are There Different Types?

Major depressive disorder or unipolar depression: This is what’s referred to as ‘depression’ or ‘depressive illness’. It usually means depressive episodes typically lasting for about four to five months – and about four episodes in a lifetime.
Bipolar disorder or manic depression: This is when the sufferer experiences episodes of depression alternating with episodes of mania. When people are manic, they are inappropriately ‘up’ in mood and have at least three of these symptoms:
1. Inflated self-esteem
2. Decreased need for sleep
3. Increased talkativeness
4. Racing ideas
5. Being easily distracted
6. Increased goal-directed activity
7. Increased involvement in pleasurable activities with little regard for possible painful consequences (for example, spending sprees, wild investment, sexual indiscretions).
Click here for more information on manic depression from the National Institute of Mental Health.
Disrhythmic disorder: This is a less severe form of depression, with fewer symptoms. But it can develop into a full depressive illness and last at least two years.
Post natal depression: This is a depressive illness in women which usually starts within six months of having a baby. Hormonal changes occurring before and after childbirth may be the trigger. The symptoms are those of depression but may include a fear of harming the baby. Treatment medication can be prescribed in pregnancy and while breastfeeding, even though it does get into breastmilk.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): There’s a small group of people who get seriously down when the seasons change and there’s a decreased amount of daylight. Symptoms include craving for starchy foods, weight gain, heavy arms and increased sensitivity to other people. There’s some controversy about whether SAD really is a depressive illness, but it can be treated like one or with light therapy.
The Family Doctor website has more information on SAD.

Major depressive disorder or unipolar depression: This is what’s referred to as ‘depression’ or ‘depressive illness’. It usually means depressive episodes typically lasting for about four to five months – and about four episodes in a lifetime.
Bipolar disorder or manic depression: This is when the sufferer experiences episodes of depression alternating with episodes of mania. When people are manic, they are inappropriately ‘up’ in mood and have at least three of these symptoms:
1. Inflated self-esteem
2. Decreased need for sleep
3. Increased talkativeness
4. Racing ideas
5. Being easily distracted
6. Increased goal-directed activity
7. Increased involvement in pleasurable activities with little regard for possible painful consequences (for example, spending sprees, wild investment, sexual indiscretions).
Click here for more information on manic depression from the National Institute of Mental Health.
Disrhythmic disorder: This is a less severe form of depression, with fewer symptoms. But it can develop into a full depressive illness and last at least two years.
Post natal depression: This is a depressive illness in women which usually starts within six months of having a baby. Hormonal changes occurring before and after childbirth may be the trigger. The symptoms are those of depression but may include a fear of harming the baby. Treatment medication can be prescribed in pregnancy and while breastfeeding, even though it does get into breastmilk.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): There’s a small group of people who get seriously down when the seasons change and there’s a decreased amount of daylight. Symptoms include craving for starchy foods, weight gain, heavy arms and increased sensitivity to other people. There’s some controversy about whether SAD really is a depressive illness, but it can be treated like one or with light therapy.
The Family Doctor website has more information on SAD.

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