Who''s At Risk For Depression--and Why?

 "It´s difficult for the public to realize how powerful the mind is, and how much pain the mind can give you. When you´re depressed, it´s as though this committee has taken over your mind, leaving you one depressing thought after the other. You don´t shave, you don´t shower, you don´t brush your teeth. You don´t care."

        --Rod Steiger, On the Edge of Darkness

Depression can afflict anyone, regardless of age, race, class, or gender. Nearly 20 million Americans suffer from depression each year, but only one out of ten seeks out and receives adequate treatment, even though the great majority of people with depression--including those with severe cases--can be helped to full recovery.

Modern brain imaging technology reveals that when someone has depression, critical chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) in their brain that are responsible for the regulation of moods, thinking, sleep, appetite, and behavior become imbalanced and fail to function properly. While no one is certain just why this brain chemistry imbalance occurs, ongoing research indicates it is clear that factors such as genetics, family upbringing, hormonal shifts, disruptions in the sleep-wake cycle, and critical losses can all contribute to the onset of depression.

Family History

Evidence suggests that depression runs in families, which may be either the result of genetics or family socialization. Those with close family members who are or have been depressed are about twice as likely as the average individual to become seriously depressed themselves.

Women

Nearly twice as many women (12%) as men (7%) are affected by a depressive illness each year. At some point during their lives, as many as 20% of women have at least one episode of depression that should be treated. The influence of hormones on depression in women-the mood-altering effects of menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, infertility, oral contraceptives, and menopause-present significant contributing factors. Many studies also suggest that since women in this culture tend to experience losses more deeply, they can be more vulnerable to depression.

Men

While some men with depression exhibit classic symptoms, studies suggest that most men with the condition have "hidden depression." The influence of cultural expectations, for example, "men are supposed to be able to rise above emotional pain," prompts many men to hide their depression--and their shame about it. Rather than the classic symptoms, men are more likely to reveal their depression in alcoholism, substance abuse, or antisocial behavior. Men are also at a significantly higher risk of completing suicides, which could possibly be related to not being able to express and seek treatment for their worsening depressions.

"Baby Boomers"

While it used to be that the elderly were the group most prone to depression, recent studies suggest that the post-World War II "baby boom generation" is currently at greatest risk. Researchers theorize this could be the consequence of growing up in 1950´s and ´60´s America with its unprecedented rates of divorce and relocation which resulted in significant losses of family, friends and community.

Other studies point to today´s 40 and 50 year-olds having come of age during a time of record economic expansion and increased expectations of wealth and success. Risk of depression increases when a person experiences a huge gap between what they expect and what they actually get and since the enormous numbers of "baby boomers" also meant unprecedented competition for schools, jobs, and housing, many had to face (and continue to be affected by) unfulfilled expectations. Having to cope with the resulting years disappointment, frustration, and loss of self-esteem throughout their professional careers can be a factor in many "baby boomers" becoming increasingly prone to depression. It should also be noted that even those who achieve career success are by no means immune to depression. In today´s high-pressure corporate world, the emotional price of "staying on top" can be quite high and can often lead to depressive symptoms.

Stressful Life Events

Stressful life events can contribute to episodes of depression in some individuals. Genetics research indicates that environmental stressors (life events that trigger a stress response) interact with depression vulnerability genes to increase the risk of developing depression. A good example would be how stress in the form of significant loss, especially the death of a close family member or friend, often leads to depression in vulnerable individuals. Examples of other stressful life events include career crises, divorce, social isolation, and early-life deprivation, all of which can lead to permanent changes in brain function and increased susceptibility to depressive symptoms.

Older Adults

More than 2 million of the 34 million Americans age 65 and older suffer from some form of depression. Depression is not, however, a normal part of aging. In contrast to the normal emotional experiences of sadness, grief, loss, or passing mood states, depression can be extreme and persistent and can interfere significantly with an elderly person´s ability to function. Depression often goes undiagnosed and untreated in the elderly because it can be masked by or confused with other existing factors such as other illnesses, medications, coping with personal losses (loss of career, loss of physical vitality, death of friends and family), and cognitive deterioration associated with normal aging. Untreated depression leaves the depressed elderly at serious risk for suicide. Older Americans are disproportionately likely to commit suicide. Incidents of suicide are especially high among elderly men, who account for 81% of suicides of those over 65.

Teens and Children

Depression in young people can go undiagnosed and untreated because the symptoms are too often viewed as normal mood swings typical of a particular developmental stage. Diagnosing and treating teens and children with depression is critical to preventing impairment in academic, social, emotional and behavioral functioning and allowing children to live up to their full potential. Large-scale research studies have reported that each year up to 8.3% of adolescents and 2.5 % of children in the United States suffer from depression. Profound trauma in childhood--abuse, a bitter divorce, the death of a parent or other deeply disturbing experiences--or having a seriously depressed parent significantly increase the risk for depression in teens and children. Depression in young people also often co-occurs with other mental disorders, most commonly anxiety, disruptive behavior, or substance abuse disorders, and with physical illnesses, such as diabetes. There is also evidence that depression emerging early in life often persists, recurs, and continues into adulthood, and that early, untreated depression can lead to more severe mental disorders in adult life.

Chronic Illness

Depression frequently co-occurs with other physical illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and HIV, and can also increase the risk for subsequent physical illness, disability, and premature death. While it´s normal to feel blue when you´re diagnosed with a chronic illness and it can be depressing to have a condition that causes pain or limits your activities, feeling "depressed" is not the same as clinical depression. Detecting and then treating depression often significantly improves the overall outcomes in those with chronic illness

Alcohol and Substance Abuse: The abuse of depressant drugs-alcohol, narcotics, sedatives, and tranquilizers-is closely linked to depression, especially in men.

How Can I Tell If It´s Depression?

Depression can influence many aspects of your life beyond your mood. A diagnosis of depression may be made if you have 5 or more of the following symptoms during the same two-week period:

·               Persistent sad or "empty" mood

·               Loss of interest or pleasure in ordinary activities, including sex

·               Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling "slowed down"

·               Sleep disturbances (insomnia, early-morning waking or oversleeping)

·               Eating disturbances (loss of appetite and weight, or over eating and weight gain)

·               Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions

·               Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness

·               Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

·               Irritability

·               Excessive crying

Chronic aches and pains (for instance, headache, upset stomach, back pain, muscle soreness, difficulty swallowing) that don´t respond to treatment and are unrelated to any real medical problem.

Getting Help

Recovery from depression begins as soon as treatment is sought. The American Psychiatric Association reports that "80% to 90% of all people with depression-even those with the most severe cases--improve once they receive appropriate treatment."

Basic ways to treat depression include psychotherapy, medication (antidepressant medications work by rebalancing the neurotransmitters in the brain) and a combination of the two.

Like the process of learning, which involves the formation of new connections between nerve cells in the brain, psychotherapy works by changing the way the brain functions. There are therapists who are especially skilled at working with those with depression. Therapy can provide significant in relieving symptoms, helping to change the negative styles of thinking and behaving often associated with depression, and working through any disturbed personal relationships that may be contributing to depression.

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