Health Library

Depression

Definition

Depression is a mood disorder. It is marked by a lasting low mood, sadness, and lack of interest in activities. Bouts of depression can last for weeks, months, or years. Treatment often helps people recover.

Causes

The exact cause of depression is not known. It is likely due to environment, personal traits, and stress.

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Risk Factors

Depression is more common in women. Many things can raise the risk of depression such as:

  • A personal or family history of depression
  • Long term illness
  • Childhood abuse, neglect, or trauma
  • Alcohol and drug abuse
  • Stress, loss, or major life changes
  • Other mental illnesses or brain injury
  • Partner abuse
  • Little or no social support

Symptoms

Depression can differ from person to person. Some have only a few symptoms, while others have many. Symptoms can change over time and may include:

  • Lasting sadness, anxiety, or emptiness
  • Loss of interest in hobbies, activities, or sex
  • Feeling helpless, hopeless, or guilty
  • Sleeping too much or too little
  • Feeling tired, restless, or irritable
  • Trouble with focus, memory, or decisions
  • Changes in eating or weight
  • Thoughts of death or suicide

Sometimes there are physical symptoms. Examples are aches and pains that cannot be explained.

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and past health. A physical exam may be done. The doctor may give mental health exams. Tests may be done to rule out other causes.

Treatment

The goal is to ease symptoms and decrease effect on day to day life. Treatment depends on the type of depression and how severe it is. Severe depression may need hospital care. Care is urgent if someone might hurt themselves or others.

Treatment may includes a combination of the following:

  • Medicines, such as:
    • Antidepressants
    • Mood stabilizers and antipsychotics—if needed
    • Sedatives for anxiety—usually short term
    • Ketamine as a nasal spray or IV—may be used if other options do not work
    • Other medicines
  • Counseling such as cognitive-behavior therapy and others—to improve coping
  • Lifestyle changes such as:
  • Supplements, such as St. John's wort and DHEA —may help some

Other treatments may be:

  • Light therapy—sitting near an ultra-bright light for a certain time each day
  • Sleep deprivation therapy—a short term option that may improve mood

Sometimes symptoms are severe and other treatments do not work. In this case, options may be:

  • Electroconvulsive therapy ECT —a brief electric pulse to the brain to help reset it
  • Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)—an implanted device that may alter signals to the brain

Prevention

There are no guidelines for depression prevention since causes can vary.

Resources

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
http://www.dbsalliance.org

Mental Health America
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net

Canadian Resources

Canadian Mental Health Association
https://cmha.ca

Canadian Psychiatric Association
http://www.cpa-apc.org

References

Columbia University. Q&A on bright light therapy. Columbia University website. Available at: http://www.columbia.edu/~mt12/blt.htm. Accessed March 15, 2021.

Depression. Mental Health America website. Available at: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/depression. March 15, 2021.

Depression. National Institute of Mental Health website. Available at: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml. Accessed March 15, 2021.

Depression alternative treatments. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/management/depression-alternative-treatments. Accessed March 15,

Kandola A, Ashdown-Franks G, et al. Physical activity and depression: Towards understanding the antidepressant mechanisms of physical activity. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2019;107:525-539.

Major depressive disorder (MDD). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/major-depressive-disorder-mdd. Accessed March 15, 2021.

St. John's wort. EBSCO Natural and Alternative Treatments website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/biomedical-libraries/natural-alternative-treatments. Accessed Macrh 15, 2021.

St. John's wort and depression. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health website. Available at: https://nccih.nih.gov/health/stjohnswort/sjw-and-depression.htm. Accessed March 15, 2021.

St. John's wort for depression. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/management/st-johns-wort-for-depression . Accessed March 15, 2021.