When are you most likely to suffer with depression?

Answer 1

Depression as the common term used for 'general depressive disorder' or 'dysthymia' is a mental illness and depending on the severity, can be a very serious medical condition. Depression is generally accepted to be caused by factors in all three aspects of health: mental, physical and social factors.

As with other psychiatric illnesses it is far more likely to occur in adults than in adolescents or children, with the majority of sufferers experiencing symptoms between the ages of 30 and 40.

Biological factors can be deficiencies in neurotransmitters in the brain, specifically serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine; which are what most anti-depressants focus on. Other biological factors may be differences in the brain structure (smaller thalamus, hippocampus and frontal lobe, and larger adrenal gland), problems with the creation of neurons in the hippocampus, the influence of oestrogen in the menopauze and an overactive HPA axis (again a problem with the hippocampus). As with all mental disorders, there are strong signs of a genetic predisposition to depression.

Psychological causes are generally a result from the development of the personality and repeated or sustained negative emotions. Low self-esteem and distorted or self-defeating thinking are also key factors in the emergence of depression or a depressive episode. A person's personality is important in the coping mechanisms and resilience against the depression.

Closely knit to psychological causes are the social ones. Poverty, isolation, abuse and an abusive childhood (in any way) are major factors. All forms of stress may have severe consequences, where depression certainly fits in. In fighting depression, a strong supportive social network can play a big role in avoiding, coping with and getting rid of depression.