Depression

DEPRESSION OVERVIEW

One of the most common mental disorder is called as Depressive Disorder. It involves a depressed mood or loss of pleasure or interest in activities for long periods of time.Depression is different from regular mood swings and feelings occured in daily routine life. Depression is prevalent to \anyone.Women are more likely to have depression than men.A depressive episode is different from regular mood fluctuations. They last most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks. 

CAUSES

1. Abuse Life
2. Severe losses
3. Any stressful events
4. Depression results from a complex interaction of social, psychological, and biological factors. People who have gone through adverse life events (unemployment, bereavement, traumatic events) are more likely to develop depression. 

SYMPTOMS & PATTERNS

1. Depressed mood (feeling sad, irritable, empty)
2. They may feel a loss of pleasure or interest in activities.
3. Poor concentration
4. Feelings of excessive guilt or low self-worth
5. Hopelessness about the future,pessimists
6. Suicidal tendency 
7. Sleep disorder
8. Changes in appetite or weight
9. Feeling very tired or low in energy.

Following are the patterns noticed for a person under depression

1. single episode depressive disorder, meaning the person’s first and only episode;
2. recurrent depressive disorder, meaning the person has a history of at least two depressive episodes;
3. bipolar disorder, meaning that depressive episodes alternate with periods of manic symptoms, which include euphoria or irritability, increased activity or energy, and other symptoms such as increased talkativeness, racing thoughts, increased self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, distractibility, and impulsive reckless behavior.

ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS

Depression can, in turn, lead to more stress and dysfunction and worsen the affected person’s life situation and the depression itself.

Depression is closely related to and affected by physical health.

Many of the factors that influence depression (such as physical inactivity or harmful use of alcohol) are also known risk factors for diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and respiratory diseases.

FACTORS

It can affect all aspects of life, including relationships with family, friends and community. It can result from or lead to problems at school and at work.

TREATMENTS

STATISTICS

An estimated 3.8% of the population experience depression, including 5% of adults (4% among men and 6% among women), and 5.7% of adults older than 60 years. Approximately 280 million people in the world have depression

Depression is about 50% more common among women than among men. Worldwide, more than 10% of pregnant women and women who have just given birth experience depression (2). More than 700 000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in 15–29-year-olds.