Depression
(mood)
In
everyday language depression refers to any downturn in mood,
which may be relatively transitory and perhaps due to something
trivial. This is differentiated from Clinical depression which
is marked by symptoms that last two weeks or more and are so
severe that they interfere with daily living.
In
the field of psychiatry the word depression can also have this
meaning but more specifically refers to a mental illness when
it has reached a severity and duration to warrant a diagnosis.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
states that a depressed mood is often reported as being: "...
depressed, sad, hopeless, discouraged, or 'down in the dumps'."
In
a clinical setting, a depressed mood can be something a patient
reports (a symptom), or something a clinician observes (a sign),
or both.
Determinants
of mood
Depression
can be the result of many factors, individually and acting in
concert.
- Environment
Reactions to events, often a loss in some form, are perhaps
the most obvious causes. This loss may be obvious, such as the
death of a loved one, or having moved from one house to another
(mainly with children), or less obvious, such as disillusionment
about one's career prospects. Monotonous environments can be
depressing. Merely painting a workplace can stimulate productivity.
A lack of control of one's environment can lead to feelings
of helplessness. Domestic disputes and financial difficulties
are common causes of a depressed mood. Other causes of depression
are climatic conditions, such as a rainy weather and a lack
of sunlight, loneliness, and feelings that one isn't cared about
by others.
- Internal psychological factors
Sometimes the depressed mood may relate more to internal processes
or even be triggered by them. Pessimistic views of life or a
lack of self-esteem can lead to depression. Illnesses and changes
in cognition that occur in psychoses and dementias, to name
but two, can lead to depression.
- Biological models of causation
These are varied but generally include hereditary, neurotransmitter,
hormonal, illness and seasonal factors which are more fully
discussed in the clinical depression article.
Adaptive
benefits of depression
While
a depressed mood is usually seen as deleterious, it may have
adaptive benefits. Of interest is the fact that physical illness
tends to lead to depressive behavior and some diseases, such
as influenza, are often accompanied by a degree of depression
that seems out of proportion to the physical illness. A depressed
mood is adaptive in illness in that it leads to the person resting
and in general elicits care. Seasonal affective disorder may
point to an atavistic link with behavior in hibernation.
Mental
disorders with depression
A
depressed mood is usually a core feature of some mental disorders
such as:
- manic depression (Bipolar disorder)
- clinical depression
- endogenous depression
- reactive or neurotic depression
- atypical depression
- psychotic depression
- seasonal affective disorder
- adjustment disorder with depressed mood
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (O.C.D.) Can often lead to depression
if left untreated
- Substances commonly used or promoted to treat depression
(effective or not)
- Antidepressants
- Coffee
- Magnesium taurate
- Paxil
- Prozac
- SAMe
- Saint John's Wort
- Zoloft
