Depression

Overview

Depression is a medical condition that leads to intense feelings of sadness or despair. These feelings do not go away by themselves. They are not necessarily related to a particular life event.

What is going on in the body?

Depression is a disorder of the brain. Researchers believe that chemicals called neurotransmitters are involved in depression. Nerve impulses cause the release of neurotransmitters from one nerve cell to the next. This release allows cells to communicate with one another. Too little or too much of these important neurotransmitters may be released and cause or contribute to depression. Some of the neurotransmitters believed to be linked to depression are serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

Some of the common types of depression are:

• Bipolar disorder: Also called manic depression, bipolar disorder is a type of depression that has either subtle or extreme "high" periods alternating with "low" periods of depression for years.
• Dysthymia: This type of chronic depression is characterized by ongoing symptoms of depression.
• Major depressive disorder: This type of clinical depression is characterized by a severe lack of interest in the things that were once enjoyed or nonstop feelings of sadness.
• Seasonal affective disorder: This type of depression occurs seasonally and is caused by lack of sunlight.
• Adjustment affective disorder. This type of depression usually occurs after a major loss or negative change in a person's life.


What are the signs and symptoms of the condition?

Some symptoms are common in people of all ages with depression. These symptoms include:

• appetite problems
• decreased energy
• difficulty paying attention or making decisions
• feeling very sensitive emotionally
• feelings of irritability
• feelings of sadness, despair, and emptiness
• inability to feel pleasure
• low self-esteem
• loss of motivation and withdrawal from others
• pessimism, negativity
• sleeping problems
• thoughts about suicide and death

Children, adolescents, or elderly people who are depressed may have other symptoms.

What are the causes and risks of the condition?

There are many theories about what causes depression. Depression may be caused by any of these things: certain illnesses certain medicines, including antibiotics and medicines used to treat acne changes in brain chemicals heredity hormonal changes lack of sunlight major stresses negative thinking patterns.

What can be done to prevent the condition?

Depression may not be preventable. However, some of these steps may be helpful in preventing it: avoiding alcohol and illegal drugsavoiding cigarette smokinggetting prompt treatment for other psychiatric disordersseeking effective treatment for chronic diseasestalking with a counselor after experiencing a major trauma.

How is the condition diagnosed?

Screening tests for depression include: the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scalethe Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) the Zung Depression Scalethe Hamilton Depression Scale.