Causes of Depression
In most cases, causes of depression involve a combination of factors that are biological, genetic, psychological and environmental in nature. Depression is not something an affected individual can regulate without deliberately altering the intensity of one of those four factors, either by counseling and medication in conjunction with lifestyle changes.
Causes of depression fundamentally lay within the brain’s complicated chemical processes, specifically concerning the amount of certain, highly influential neurotransmitters. Serotonin reuptake is especially targeted when someone suffers from depression, since serotonin is responsible for regulating emotions, appetite, mood and sleep. Decreased serotonin levels in the brain have been clinically associated with all forms of depression, from postpartum depression to seasonal holiday depression resulting from the stress of preparing for family get-togethers, shopping and social gatherings.
When serotonin is unable to leave the pre-synaptic terminal at the end of a neuron, it remains in the neuron and is thus unable to saturate the brain and perform its various duties. Antidepressant medication such as Zoloft, Effexor and Lexapro effectively allow the release of serotonin into the brain which produces positive mood changes and a lifting of depressed thinking. Although researchers are aware of causes of depression, they have yet to discover definitely, why serotonin is subject to reuptake processes and how antidepressants work to counteract this issue successfully when it does occur.
Diagnosis of Depression
A certified psychologist who administers certain written and oral tests to that patient gives a professional diagnosis of depression. In addition, a psychologist assesses a patients’ non-verbal affect when initially interviewing them, and gathers information to assemble a detailed history of the patient’s family history. While the severity of the depression will dictate the intensity of symptoms, basic manifestations of a depressive illness include:
- Feelings of sadness, emptiness, hopelessness and anxiousness, sometimes for no reason
- Feeling guilty or worthless; unable to find meaning in one’s life
- Disturbing sensation of restlessness and irritability
- Inability to find pleasure in activities that were once interesting
- Varying degrees of hypersomnia or insomnia (alternatively, causes of depression may be insomnia or sleeping too much)
- Lack of energy, sometimes to the point of not being able to get out of bed
- Cognitive difficulties–trouble concentrating, remembering or making decisions
- Overeating or eating very little
- Suicidal ideation and attempts in severe cases of depression
- Hypochondrias
Causes of depression may also be something that has recently occurred in someone’s life, such as the death of a loved one, job loss, divorce or other major life event. When something happens which temporarily but radically upsets the expectations that someone may have about their future, thought process are negatively impacted, resulting in neuronal activity that may precipitate an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. Antidepressants may alleviate this imbalance until the person is able to adjust to the change and cope with it in a more healthy way.
Anger and Depression
Although someone suffering from depression appears to be sad and withdrawn, that person is actually dealing with deep-seated anger in an unhealthy way. Depressed people are frequently frustrated, irritable and snappish, but do not realize why they are reacting this way simply because they do not or cannot acknowledge the anger they feel. As adults, we are taught to repress negative emotions for fear of embarrassment or reprisal, and show only positive emotions to gain acceptance by others. What causes depression is the result of anger continually building and being able to manifest itself either verbally or by taking action. As a result, depression overwhelms the bewildered individual as a form of coping mechanism.
Indirect causes of depression that produce a chronic feeling of hostility in an individual may also impel that person to seek self-help measures, such as drug, alcohol or sexual addiction, unless counseling and medication is implemented.
Post-Natal Depression
Causes of depression in postpartum women is not entirely known. Post-natal depression is depression following the birth of a baby, experienced by women of all ages. Due to wild fluctuations in hormone levels during and after childbirth, it is common for mothers to experience a mild sense of sadness and fatigue after having a baby, but occasionally the feeling worsens, becoming severe enough to prevent the mother from taking proper care of her baby.
Depression during pregnancy is not as common as depression after pregnancy, because maternal hormones are more active in the body than mood regulators in the brain. However, depression and pregnancy are strongly associated when mothers experience detrimental environmental factors during pregnancy such as poverty, loneliness, relationship difficulties and lack of medical intervention.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 12 percent of new mothers report feeling moderately depressed after childbirth, while nearly 6 percent say they feel extremely depressed after giving birth. In addition, post-partum depression (PPD) also impacts marital and familial relationships, the bonding process with the infant and behavior of the infant.
Researchers are certain that hormonal factors play an important role in the development of PPD. They have also found through analysis of PPD, that having close family members who suffer from depression may increase the risk of a new mother suffering from PDD. Other potential causes of depression in women following childbirth include having a history of experiencing severe premenstrual syndrome disorder and being a first-time mother.
Alternatively, for women troubled by infertility depression may result as the ramifications of dealing with anger at themselves, guilt and anxiety from realizing that “time” may be running out for them to have a baby. This type of depression does not usually necessitate antidepressants if counseling is pursued and women suffering from infertility issues are given instructions regarding how to handle these emotions in an effective and unmitigated manner. Furthermore, informing someone about causes of depression--particularly negative thought processes and the imbalance of transmitters–seems to help in alleviating the helpless feeling experienced by depressed individuals.
Menopause and Depression
In addition to pregnancy, menopause provokes a myriad of hormonal changes within a woman’s body that produces numerous physical and emotional issues. Active menopause usually occurs after age 45 and can last until a woman is in her late 50′s, during which time depression, as well as other problems such as hot flashes and extreme mood swings, generally affect most women.
Causes of depression in menopausal women are still under debate, with many theories available that point to a variety of reasons. The aggravating and sometimes debilitating symptoms of menopause itself may cause depression. In addition, many women at this point in their lives are dealing with children leaving the home, divorce, changing careers and other significant, life-changing events that could leave them feeling overwhelmed, lonely, anxious and hopeless.
Causes of depression during menopause also involve the hormones estrogen, androgen and progesterone. While a woman may be experiencing all of these upsetting events, these hormones are actively phasing out of a woman’s reproductive system, especially estrogen, enhancing serotonin activity in the brain. Therefore, reduced estrogen levels during menopause appear to be one of the reasons why women experience insomnia depression, irritability, fatigue and disturbing hot flashes during this time.
Researchers have discovered that women who were diagnosed with depression in their 20′s seem to have an increased risk for developing menopause-related depression in their 50′s. In addition, causes of depression in menopausal women may be associated with whether they had a hysterectomy and underwent pre-mature menopause due to removal of their ovaries.
Diabetes and Depression
Causes of depression in those suffering from diabetes are unclear but research has shown a distinct correlation between those with diabetes and incidences of depression. Suggested theories for diabetes-related depression involve the stress of dealing with diabetes, the metabolic impact that diabetes has on brain chemistry and whether an individual has a history of depression prior to developing diabetes.
It is interesting to note that diabetics who do not adhere to a proper diet and take insulin medication as prescribed may suffer from symptoms resembling depression symptoms. Fluctuations in blood sugar levels produce fatigue and irritability, both fundamental indicators of depression. In other words, what causes depression in diabetics may be linked to diet and medication, something easily rectified by eating the correct foods and taking medication as directed.
However, if a diabetic is taking care of himself but still suffers from depression symptoms, an intervention may be necessary involving psychotherapy and antidepressant medication. Individuals with both types of diabetes are able to safely take antidepressants such as Elavil, Paxil and Zoloft.
Genetics and Depression
While the causes of depression are still under investigation, researchers continue to examine whether a correlation between genetics and depression exists. People who suffer from life-long depression rather than temporary depression almost always have a family history of depression. Blood relatives of chronically depressed individuals have often been diagnosed, themselves, with some form of depression or other mental illness, such as bipolar disorder or various personality disorders.
However, this association is not clear, as psychologists and geneticists still do not know whether a “depression” gene exists or if depression in a family is the result of dysfunctional interactions between family members.
More research is necessary to determine causes of depression correctly, which may lead to discovering ways to prevent depression in those most prone to the disease. By combining the fields of neuroscience, psychology and human physiology, scientists are continually encountering new data regarding depression, the brain and its effects on the human body.
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Also visit the other great pages on this site, Depression Types , Depression Symptoms, Cures for Depression and Depression Statistics.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200307/what-causes-depression
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/what-causes-depression.shtml
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/complete-index.shtml
http://www.all-on-depression-help.com/anger-and-depression.html
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/facts/depressionpostnatal.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/PRAMS/PPD.htm
http://www.epigee.org/menopause/depression.html
http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/mental-health/depression.html
http://diabetes.webmd.com/coping-depression