It is common to experience depressed moods or "the blues" at some points in life. Most often, these periods of sadness occur as a result of a life change, either in the form of a personal setback or a loss, such as the death of a loved one. The painful feelings that accompany these periods are usually transitory and should be viewed as inherent aspects of the human experience. However, when feelings persist and result in significant distress or serious dysfunction in daily life, depression should be considered a medical illness that requires treatment. Severity and duration of symptoms are the key factors that distinguish normal sadness from a clinically significant depression.
The causes of depression are not clear. The underlying mechanism may be linked to abnormalities of the brain's neurotransmitter systems, particularly the chemical messengers serotonin and noradrenaline. It would appear that stressful and traumatic events can trigger depression in some, but not all, individuals. A family history of depression, or genetic factors, can play a significant role. Other risk factors include female gender and experiencing the loss of a parent in one's childhood. Most clinicians believe that depression is caused by a complex combination of biological, psychological, and social factors unique for each individual.
A clinical depression is an illness that can afflict anyone, regardless of age, race, class, or gender. Some 20% of women and 10% of men can be expected to suffer from a significant depressive illness at some point during their lives. Treatment is always indicated, and sometimes the severity of symptoms may be serious enough to warrant hospitalization in order to provide appropriate care or protection from self-harm. Unfortunately, there remains a 15% risk of death from suicide in those individuals who have the more severe forms of depression. Despite these alarming statistics, about two-thirds of people with depression do not receive treatment for their potentially life-threatening illness.
Are you clinically depressed? Our check list can help determine if you need professional help.