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Depression
Depression (major depressive disorder) is a widespread and serious medical condition that impacts how you feel, think, and behave. Fortunately, it is also treatable. It leads to feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable. It can result in various emotional and physical issues and may reduce a person’s ability to function both at work and at home.
Symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include:
- Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
- Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Loss of energy or increased fatigue
- Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., hand-wringing or pacing) or slowed movements and speech (actions observable by others)
- Feeling worthless or guilty
- Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Symptoms must last at least two weeks for the best diagnosis.
Medical conditions (e.g., thyroid issues, a brain tumor, or vitamin deficiencies) can mimic the symptoms, so it is important to rule out underlying medical causes.
Depression affects approximately one in 15 adults (6.7%) each year. Additionally, one in six people (16.6%) will experience it at some point in their lifetime. It can develop at any stage of life, but it most commonly begins in the late teenage years to mid-20s. Women are at a higher risk of experiencing depression than men. Some studies suggest that one-third of women will have a major depressive episode during their lifetime.
Risk factors for depression
Depression can impact anyone, regardless of how stable or fulfilling their life may seem from the outside.
Several factors can play a role:
- Biochemistry: Differences in certain chemicals in the brain may contribute to symptoms of depression.
- Genetics: It can run in families. For example, if one identical twin has the problem, the other has a 70 per cent 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.