Depression- types, cause, symptoms, treatment and prevention - Disesecure

Depression

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home.

Causes

The causes of depression are not fully understood and may not be down to a single source. Depression is likely to be due to a complex combination of factors that include:

·         depressed woman

·         Depression has a wide range of causes and potential treatments.

·         genetics

·         biological - changes in neurotransmitter levels

·         environmental

·         psychological and social (psychosocial)

Symptoms

Although depression may occur only once during your life, people typically have multiple episodes. During these episodes, symptoms occur most of the day, nearly every day and may include:

·         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

For many people with depression, symptoms usually are severe enough to cause noticeable problems in day-to-day activities, such as work, school, social activities or relationships with others. Some people may feel generally miserable or unhappy without really knowing why.

Types

Unipolar and bipolar depression

If the predominant feature is a depressed mood, it is called unipolar depression. However, if it is characterized by both manic and depressive episodes separated by periods of normal mood, it is referred to as bipolar disorder (previously called manic depression).

Major depressive disorder with psychotic features

This condition is characterized by depression accompanied by psychosis. Psychosis can involve delusions - false beliefs and detachment from reality, or hallucinations - sensing things that do not exist.

Postpartum depression

Women often experience "baby blues" with a newborn, but postpartum depression - also known as postnatal depression - is more severe.

Major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern

Previously called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), this condition is related to the reduced daylight of winter - the depression occurs during this season but lifts for the rest of the year and in response to light therapy.

Risk Factors for Depression

Depression can affect anyone—even a person who appears to live in relatively ideal circumstances. Several factors can play a role in depression:

Biochemistry: Differences in certain chemicals in the brain may contribute to symptoms of depression.

Genetics: Depression can run in families. For example, if one identical twin has depression, the other has a 70 percent chance of having the illness sometime in life.

Personality: People with low self-esteem, who are easily overwhelmed by stress, or who are generally pessimistic appear to be more likely to experience depression.

Environmental factors: Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse or poverty may make some people more vulnerable to depression.

Complications

Depression is a serious disorder that can take a terrible toll on you and your family. Depression often gets worse if it isn't treated, resulting in emotional, behavioral and health problems that affect every area of your life. Examples of complications associated with depression include:

·         Excess weight or obesity, which can lead to heart disease and diabetes

·         Pain or physical illness

·         Alcohol or drug misuse

·         Anxiety, panic disorder or social phobia

·         Family conflicts, relationship difficulties, and work or school problems

·         Social isolation

·         Suicidal feelings, suicide attempts or suicide

·         Self-mutilation, such as cutting

·         Premature death from medical conditions

Treatment

Depression is a treatable 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- Psychotherapy, or “talk therapy,” is sometimes used alone for treatment of mild depression; for moderate to severe depression, psychotherapy is often used in along with antidepressant medications. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been found to be effective in treating depression. CBT is a form of therapy focused on the present and problem solving. CBT helps a person to recognize distorted thinking and then change behaviors and thinking.

Drug treatment- Antidepressants are drugs available on prescription from a doctor. Drugs come into use for moderate to severe depression, but are not recommended for children, and will be prescribed only with caution for adolescents.

Electroconvulsive Therapy - Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment most commonly used for patients with severe major depression or bipolar disorder who have not responded to other treatments. It involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the patient is under anesthesia. A patient typically receives ECT two to three times a week for a total of six to 12 treatments. ECT has been used since the 1940s, and many years of research have led to major improvements. It is usually managed by a team of trained medical professionals including a psychiatrist, an anesthesiologist and a nurse or physician assistant.

Medication: Brain chemistry may contribute to an individual’s depression and may factor into their treatment. For this reason, antidepressants might be prescribed to help modify one’s brain chemistry. These medications are not sedatives, “uppers” or tranquilizers. They are not habit-forming. Generally antidepressant medications have no stimulating effect on people not experiencing depression.

Prevention

There's no sure way to prevent depression. However, these strategies may help.

·         Take steps to control stress, to increase your resilience and boost your self-esteem.

·         Reach out to family and friends, especially in times of crisis, to help you weather rough spells.

·         Get treatment at the earliest sign of a problem to help prevent depression from worsening.

·         Consider getting long-term maintenance treatment to help prevent a relapse of symptoms.