Depression
Depression is more than just a low mood - it’s a very serious illness. Those with depression find it difficult to function daily and the illness has serious effects on one’s physical and mental health. So how do you know of a person is depressed not just, say, sad? Everybody experiences sadness from time to time which is a feeling most commonly taken to be a normal, subclinical condition. Depression is sadness on steroids and is diagnosable if a person for more than two weeks has felt sad, down or miserable for more hours and more days than not, or, has lost interest or pleasure in most of their usual activities and interests. In addition, they would have experienced symptoms which include changed behaviours (notably withdrawal and avoidance); thoughts (negative and self-deprecating); feelings or emotions (miserable and frustrated); and physical effects (fatigue and sleep problems amongst others). Depression is very common. Around 1 million Australian adults and 100,000 young people live with depression every year. On average, one in five people will experience depression in their lives, one in four females and one in six males. Depression is a condition which is often not recognised or treated. When treated psychologically, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) helps to correct negative thought patterns. CBT interventions are applied to change negative thoughts and feelings; encourage the person to get involved in activities; prevent remission in the future; and identify ways to manage the illness and stay well. Medications play a significant role in the management of depression, particularly the higher the severity. Most of these third and fourth generation drugs have limited side-effects for most patients but some earlier generational medications, while possibly more effective for melancholic and psychotic depression, may be administered with greater care and supervision. Although some psychological treatments for depression maybe quite structured, it is common for the therapist to utilise an eclectic approach based on client involvement and appeal. Importantly, CBT is used as a collaborative approach where both therapist and client work to unpack the issues and bring lasting relief. Depression is a perplexing condition in which there is often no simple explanation as to its cause. Generally, depression can be due to many factors including stressors which can range from mild to severe, combined with vulnerability or predisposition to depression that can result from biological, genetic or psychological factors. Each case of depression maybe associated with different mixtures of causes. For psychotic or melancholic depression (generally considered extremes of the condition), physical and biological factors are relevant. In contrast, for non-melancholic depression (commonly termed reactive depression), the role of personality and stressful life events are important. Evidence exists that genetic factors play a significant role in a person’s predisposition towards developing depression, especially melancholic depression, psychotic depression and bipolar disorder. The predisposition to develop depression can be inherited. The genetic risk of developing clinical depression is about 40% if a biological parent has been diagnosed with the illness, with the remaining 60% being due to factors within the in the individual’s own environment. Depression is unlikely to occur however without stressful life and life events but the risk of developing depression because of such an event is strongly genetically determined the human brain largely remains a mystery in the depression story. We believe that in clinical depression neurotransmitter function is severely disrupted. These are chemicals which carry signals from neuron to neuron and the many different types serve many different purposes. Three important neurotransmitters which may affect a person’s mood include serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Antidepressant medications are designed to correct for dysfunction. As well, the ageing brain, gender, and stress can all play a part in leading people to become depressed from specific events. Whatever the reason and whatever the events leading to the condition, clinical depression is an illness to be taken seriously in the search to alleviate the experience. If you are feeling suicidal or in need of help please contact Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support service on 13 11 14. If you would like to see a psychologist, give me a call 0400 809 050 to make an appointment. We are committed to help you. |
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