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What Causes Depression?

Depression has no single cause; often, it results from a combination of things.

by Arthur Buchanan

Depression has no single cause; often, it results from a combination of things. You may have no idea why depression has struck you. Whatever its cause, depression is not just a state of mind. It is related to physical changes in the brain, and connected to an imbalance of a type of chemical that carries signals in your brain and nerves. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters.

Depression is a combination of biological, genetic and psychological factors. At the biological level, depression results from abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. This can be caused by changing levels of hormones, explaining why many people first experience depression during puberty.

Some of the more common factors involved in depression are:

* Family history. Genetics play an important part in depression. It can run in families for generations.

* Trauma and stress. Things like financial problems, the breakup of a relationship, or the death of a loved one can bring on depression. You can become depressed after changes in your life, like starting a new job,

 graduating from school, or getting married.

* Pessimistic personality. People who have low self-esteem and a negative outlook are at higher risk of becoming depressed.

These traits may actually be caused by low-level depression (called dysthymia).

* Physical conditions. Serious medical conditions like heart disease, cancer, and HIV can contribute to depression, partly because of the physical weakness and stress they bring on. Depression can make medical conditions worse, since it weakens the immune system and can make pain harder to bear. In some cases, depression can be caused by medications used to treat medical conditions.

* Other psychological disorders. Anxiety disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and (especially) substance abuse often appear along with depression.

What Causes depression?

The multiple causes of depression aren't completely understood. Current research suggests possible genetic, familial, biochemical, physical, psychological, and social causes.

Psychological causes (the focus of many nursing interventions) may include feelings of helplessness and vulnerability, anger, hopelessness and pessimism, and low self-esteem.

They may be related to abnormal character and behavior patterns and troubled personal relationships. In many patients, the history identifies a specific personal loss or severe stressor that probably interacts with the person's predisposition to provoke major depression.

Depression may be secondary to a specific medical condition, for example:

* metabolic disturbances, such as hypoxia and hypercalcemia

* endocrine disorders, such as diabetes and Cushing's syndrome

* neurologic diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's

disease

* cancer (especially of the pancreas)

* viral and bacterial infections, such as influenza and pneumonia

* cardiovascular disorders such as heart failure

* pulmonary disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

* musculoskeletal disorders such as degenerative arthritis

* GI disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome

* genitourinary problems such as incontinence

* collagen vascular diseases such as lupus

* anemia

Drugs prescribed for medical and psychiatric conditions as well as many commonly abused substances can also cause depression.

Examples include antihypertensives, psychotropics, narcotic and nonnarcotic analgesics, antiparkinsonian drugs, numerous cardiovascular medications, oral anti diabetics, antimicrobials, steroids, chemotherapeutic agents, cimetidine, and alcohol.

People who have low self-esteem, who consistently view themselves and the world with pessimism or who are readily overwhelmed by stress, are prone to depression. Whether this represents a psychological predisposition or an early form of the illness is not clear.

It is important to remember that all of the depressive disorders are treatable conditions.

Continue to read the rest of this article - next: what causes major depression?

About the author:

Arthur Buchanan

Out of Darkness & Into the Light 209 Ellis Ave. Suite 1313 Bellevue, Ohio44811

www.out-of-darkness.com

www.adhdandme.com