Depression Disorders Overview

Depression, also known as major depression, major depressive disorder or clinical depression, is a mood disorder that is one of the most common conditions in the world, affecting most people in some manner either direct or indirect at some point in their lifetime.

Everybody feels down every know and then, and this is a normal part of the human conciseness, but when depression interferes with a persons quality of life and everyday activities become overwhelming there could be an underling issue that can be effectively treated.

What are the Symptoms of Depression

Depression effects everybody differently from constantly being tired to a feeling of complete helplessness. Diagnosing clinical depression can be the first step in a road to recovery and a healthier life. Some common signs and symptoms of depression include:

• Feeling sad or down
• A feeling of hopelessness
• Over sleeping or problems sleeping
• Weight loss or weight gain
• Being easily annoyed
• Fatigue
• Feeling of worthlessness
• Sexual issues
• Thoughts of suicide
• Trouble concentrating
• Unexplained crying

Most of these signs and symptoms can be normal feelings in anyone’s life sparked from a variety of daily situations but when they occur often and last for extended periods of time you may be experiencing depression.

If your having thoughts of suicide call the very helpful people at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK

Types of Depression

• Major Depression or clinical depression is characterized by a constant moderate to severe show of symptoms that can last for months or years. People with major depression generally find that the symptoms are reoccurring throughout their lifetime.
• Atypical Depression is a form of major depression where people find that their symptoms of depression lessen or completely turn around at certain points in their day or life. Things such as good news or just having fun with friends or a loved one are some examples of this. Unfortunately these mood lifts are only temporary and depression symptoms return shortly after.

• Dysthymia (recurrent, mild depression) is a type of chronic mild depression where you feel mildly or moderately depressed most of the time with short spots of normal or heightened mood. People with Dysthymia often feel that this is just who they are or their normal mood. Because of this they may not get the treatment they need to alleviate their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression associated with change of seasons or weather. When it’s gloomy or rainy out side it can effect your mood in a similar manner. SAD often effects younger people such as teens and is generally easily treated with exposure to bright lights or other distractions.
• Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder that has characteristics of depression as well as mania. Also known as manic depression, people with symptoms of this condition will be manic and overly excited one moment and then depressed and sad the next.
• Postpartum depression (PPD) is a condition that describes a range of physical and emotional changes that many mothers can have after giving birth. The mothers can become depressed or even emotionally distant from their baby. Treatments and counseling are available and been shown to be very effective.

Causes of Depression

There can be many factors involved when considering the cause of a single persons depression. People experience emotions and lifes challenges differently and can in turn have different reasons for their symptoms of depression.

Depression is known to be caused by one, or a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors.

• Biological factors such as Genes or Biochemicals can be a major factor in developing depression. Biochemicals such as naturally occurring brain chemicals called neurotransmitters have been shown to be off balance in people with depression as well as certain other diseases and conditions. Studies have also shown that people with biological family members that also have the condition are more likely to develop symptoms of depression.
• psychological factors are often found to be responsible for forms of mild and moderate depression. A serious loss, chronic illness, relationship problems, work stress, family crisis, financial setback, or any unwelcome life change can all trigger depression symptoms. Sometimes psychological factors can be more serious and require therapy and medication.
• Social Factors such as childhood events, teen life, and friends and family have been found to trigger depression. If a person is outcasted, or feels outcasted, doesn’t fit in, or is of a different social sanding they can often develop mood disorders.

Diagnosing Depression

When diagnosing depression doctors will run a variety of tests including a questionnaire about your symptoms, a physical exam that may include blood work, and psychological exams. These tests will help your doctor understand what may be causing the symptoms which in turn will be used to determine what treatment options will work best specifically for you.

Some of these tests might include:

• Physical Tests such as blood work to look for other underling issues such as a thyroid problem, heart rate, and blood pressure.
• Psychologicall tests may start with a simple questions about your feelings, your mood changes, and how often you feel up and down. They may ask about thoughts of suicide and how your mood is affecting your life.

In order to be diagnosed with major depression you must meet the symptom criteria spelled out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This manual is published by the American Psychiatric Association and is used by mental health providers to diagnose mental conditions.

The Diagnostic criteria for depression include:

• Symptoms that occur nearly every day for two or more weeks
• A depressed mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in most activities
• Significant unintentional weight loss or weight gain
• Sleeping difficulties, whether sleeping too much, too little or frequent waking episodes while trying to sleep
• Feelings of restlessness and agitation
• Feelings of sluggishness
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Problems thinking, concentrating or making decisions
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Your symptoms cause you distress or impair your ability to function in your daily life

Depression Medications and Treatment Options

If your doctor determines that you are experiencing these symptoms and are in need of treatment they will go over the different options available that fit your needs. They may include medication, therapy, or possibly both.

There are three main types of antidepressents your doctor might decide to prescribe for you. These include:

• A Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Antidepressants or SSRI’s work by blocking the reabsorption (reuptake) of serotonin by nerve cells in the brain. Leaving more serotonin in the brain. The increased serotonin levels enhance neurotransmission (the sending of nerve impulses) and in turn  improves mood. SSRIs are the most common form of antidepressants prescribed by doctors because they seem to work well and have the least side effects. A list of commonly prescribed SSRIs include: Celexa (citalopram), Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate), Luvox (fluvoxamine), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), and Zoloft (sertraline).
• Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) have been around longer then SSRIs (first discovered in the early 1950’s) but are used less because the side effects are more severe. They work in a similar manner as SSRI’s. Some commonly prescribed TCAs include: Imipramine (Tofranil), Amitriptyline (Elavil) and Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) is another strong antidepressant but is rarely used except as a last resort for severe depression. This drug can have serious and even fatal side effects when mixed with certain foods making it a dangerous option for most patients.

Antidepressants take time to work effectively. Some can take up to 15 weeks before the full benefits from the drug become apparent. You may be asked to keep track of any side effects as well as suicidal thoughts when beginning a new regiment.

Therapy and Psychological treatment of depression (psychotherapy) can help in several different ways. By helping to recognize which life problems are the most important to focus on, by raising awareness of emotions and what is triggering the depression, and finally by putting pessimistic ideas, unrealistic expectations, and overly critical self-evaluations into a more sensible perspective.

• Family Therapy can help identify stress issues in your life and open up communication.
• Group Therapy has been found to be an effective tool to use to help understand and relate feelings to everyday situations. Meeting with other people that have similar mania and depression, and discussing why they happen (triggers), can help with the persons ability to manage their emotions.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, is self therapy where the person in questions identifies negative emotions and tries to replace them with positive ones creating a better understanding of ones self and improving their outlook on life. This type of therapy can be quite rewarding but can take time and practice before it comes as a natural form of thinking.

Most people with proper treatment find that their overall mood, quality of life, socialization, and self image  improve over time, although in more serious cases drugs and therapy may continue throughout their life time.