American Psychiatric Association defines major depressive disorder (depression) as a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how one feels, thinks and acts.Depressioncauses feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and decrease a person’s ability to function at work and home.Depressioncan occur at any age.
Depressioncauses significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning. With appropriate medical treatment, therapy and emotional support, 70 to 80 percent of patients can achieve resolution or significant reduction in symptoms.
What are the causes of depression?
The causes of depression could be a combination of different factors, such as genetics, chronic medical or neurological conditions and other stressors.
- Genetics:First-degree relatives ofdepressedindividuals are about three times as likely to develop depression as the general population.
- Stressors:Stressors can be personal, familial, social and environmental, such as
- Chronic pain
- Medical illness
- Psychosocialstress
- Lack ofsleep
- Impaired social supports
- Caregiver burden
- Loneliness
- 丧亲之痛
- Negative life events
- Loss of a loved one
- Harassment
- Bullying
- Alcoholanddrug abuse
- Certain medications
- Abuse
- Poor parent-child relationship
- Traumatic life events
- Major life changes, such as divorce, loss of employment
- Neuroendocrine abnormalities and neurodegenerative diseases:Possible abnormalities of the neurotransmitter systems may cause depression. Neurodegenerative diseases (especially Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s),stroke,multiple sclerosis,seizure disorders,cancer,macular degenerationandchronic painhave been associated with higher rates of depression.
- Vascular causes:
- Higher incidence of depression following astroke
- Higher prevalence of ischemic brain changes in older adults with depression
- Association between depression andheart diseaseand depression anddiabetes
- Higher rates of depression among patients withvascular dementiathan those with Alzheimer’s disease
What are the complications?
长期的抑郁会导致下面的complications in life:
- Increased risk of domestic abuse, fights, estrangement and divorces
- Loss of job
- Increasedsuiciderisk
- Increased risk of other psychiatric disorders
- Violence
SLIDESHOW
Learn to Spot Depression: Symptoms, Warning Signs, MedicationSee Slideshow
References
Villarroel MA, Terlizzi EP. Symptoms of Depression Among Adults: United States, 2019. NCHS Data Brief No. 379, September 2020. CDC/National Center for Health Statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db379.htm
Halverson JL. Depression. Medscape. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/286759-overview
American Psychiatric Association. What Is Depression? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
Halverson JL. Depression. Medscape. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/286759-overview
American Psychiatric Association. What Is Depression? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
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