Definition | Causes | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Prevention

Definition

Depression is a mental illness marked by feelings of profound sadness and lack of interest in activities. Depression is not the same as a blue mood. It is a persistent low mood that interferes with the ability to function and appreciate things in life. It may cause a wide range of symptoms, both physical and emotional. It can last for weeks, months, or years. People with depression rarely recover without treatment.

Causes

The precise cause is not known. It can be difficult to determine if an illness causes depression or depression caused the illness. Possible causes may be mental, physical, or environmental and include:

  • Stressful life events (usually in combination with one or more of the following causes)
  • Chronic stress
  • Low self-esteem
  • Imbalances in brain chemicals and hormones
  • Lack of control over circumstances (helplessness and hopelessness)
  • Negative thought patterns and beliefs
  • Chronic pain
  • Heart disease and heart surgery
  • Genetic predisposition
  • Altered brain structure and function, including after a stroke
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Postpartum depression occurs after childbirth
  • Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression or a worsening of symptoms thought to be due to the decreased exposure to sunlight that occurs during winter months
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Anemia
  • Cancer
  • Substance abuse

Brain

Brain Man Face
Chemical, hormonal, and physical changes in the brain may cause depression.
© 2009 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Risk Factors

Risk factors include:

  • Sex: female
  • Age: elderly
  • Chronic physical or mental illness, including thyroid disease, headaches, chronic pain, and stroke
  • Previous episode of depression
  • Major life changes or stressful life events (eg, bereavement, trauma)
  • Postpartum depression
  • Winter season for seasonal affective disorder
  • Little or no social support
  • Low self-esteem
  • Lack of personal control over circumstances
  • Family history of depression (parent or sibling)
  • Feelings of helplessness
  • Certain medications, including medications used to treat asthma, high blood pressure, arthritis, high cholesterol, and heart problems
  • Smoking
  • Anxiety
  • Insomnia
  • Personality disorders
  • Hypothyroidism

Symptoms

Depression can differ from person to person. Some people have only a few symptoms, while others have many.

Symptoms can change over time and may include:

  • Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, or emptiness
  • Hopelessness
  • Feeling guilty, worthless, or helpless
  • Loss of interest in hobbies and activities
  • Loss of interest in sex
  • Feeling tired
  • Trouble concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
  • Trouble sleeping, waking up too early, or oversleeping
  • Eating more or less than usual
  • Weight gain or weight loss
  • Thoughts of death or suicide with or without suicide attempts
  • Restlessness or irritability
  • Physical symptoms that defy standard diagnosis and do not respond well to medical treatments

Diagnosis

There is no blood test or diagnostic test for depression. The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, giving special attention to:

  • Alcohol and drug use
  • Thoughts of death or suicide
  • Family members who have or have had depression
  • Sleep patterns
  • Previous episodes of depression

The doctor may also perform specific mental health exams. This will help get detailed information about your speech, thoughts, memory, and mood. A physical exam and other tests can help rule out other causes.

Treatment

Treatment may involve the use of medicine, psychotherapy, or the use of both.

Severe depression usually requires hospital care and the use of drugs, such as olanzapine .

Antidepressant Medications

Up to 70% of depressed patients find relief from their symptoms with medicine. They can take 2-6 weeks to reach their maximum effectiveness. The medications include:

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

  • Fluoxetine (eg, Prozac)
  • Sertraline (eg, Zoloft)
  • Paroxetine (eg, Paxil)
  • Citalopram (eg, Celexa)
  • Fluvoxamine (eg, Luvox)
  • Escitalopram (eg, Lexapro)

FDA Public Health Advisory for Antidepressants

The FDA advises that people taking antidepressants should be closely observed. For some, the medications have been linked to worsening symptoms and suicidal thoughts. These adverse effects are most common in young adults. The effects tend to occur at the beginning of treatment or when there is an increase or decrease in the dose.

Although the warning is for all antidepressants, of most concern are the SSRI class such as:

  • Prozac ( fluoxetine ), Zoloft ( sertraline ), Paxil ( paroxetine ), Luvox ( fluvoxamine ), Celexa ( citalopram ), Lexapro( escitalopram )

For more information, please visit: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/antidepressants/

Tricyclic Antidepressants

  • Imipramine (eg, Tofranil)
  • Doxepin (eg, Adapin, Sinequan)
  • Clomipramine (eg, Anafranil)
  • Nortriptyline (eg, Pamelor)
  • Amitriptyline (eg, Elavil)

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

  • Phenelzine (eg, Nardil)
  • Tranylcypromine (eg, Parnate)

Other Antidepressants

  • Venlafaxine (eg, Effexor)
  • Nefazodone (eg, Serzone)
  • Mirtazapine (eg, Remeron)
  • Bupropion (eg, Wellbutrin)
  • Duloxetine (eg, Cymbalta)

Psychotherapy

Short-term (10-20 weeks) therapy can help some people. Psychotherapy is designed to help you:

  • Cope with difficulties in relationships
  • Change negative thinking and behavior patterns
  • Resolve difficult feelings

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

ECT is the use of an electric stimulus to produce a generalized seizure. It may be used in people with severe or life-threatening depression. ECT is also used for people who cannot take or do not respond to medicine. It is considered a safe and effective procedure.

Exercise

A regular exercise program has been shown to relieve some of the symptoms. It should play a large role in the overall management of depression.

Phototherapy

Phototherapy is done by sitting under special lights. It usually lasts about 30 minutes every morning.

Dietary Supplements and Herbal Therapy

St. John's wort is an herb that is available without prescription. It is widely used in Europe for the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Studies have shown that the herb is as effective as standard antidepressants and has fewer side effects.

There is also recent evidence that DHEA, a dietary supplement, may help some people. DHEA is an ingredient in fish oil. Some experts disagree with these findings. Always discuss the use of dietary and herbal supplements with your doctor.

Dietary Changes

Research suggests that diets high in tryptophan, certain B vitamins, and fish oil may be helpful. They have shown promise in both relieving and preventing depression.

If you want to take supplements or change your diet, be sure to talk to your doctor first.

Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS)

VNS is used as therapy for depression when multiple trials of medicine do not work. A pacemaker-like device stimulates the vagus nerve in the neck.

Vagus Nerve

Vagus Nerve
Stimulation of the vagus nerve (yellow) at the neck is a depression therapy option.
© 2009 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

If you are diagnosed with depression, follow your doctor's instructions .

Prevention

Strategies to reduce your chance of becoming depressed include:

  • Being aware of your personal risk
  • Having a psychiatric evaluation and psychotherapy if needed
  • Developing social supports
  • Learning stress management techniques
  • Exercising regularly
  • Not abusing alcohol or drugs
  • Getting adequate sleep, rest, and recreation
  • Eating a Mediterranean diet, which includes plant foods, olive oil, and fish and chicken.