Conditions & Diseases: Psychological & Mental Health

Depression

Causes of Depression and Risk Factors

In the past, doctors believed depression was triggered by thoughts and emotions that trouble the person. Recent studies have proven that the mechanisms that lead to depression are more complex. Even if today’s technology and knowledge allows us a better understanding, scientists are still unable to establish the exact causes that trigger depression. However, scientists are sure that a combination of several factors contributes to depression onset and evolution.

depression are one-and-a-half to three times more likely to suffer from depression themselves than a member of the general population.

2. Chemical changes in the brain: Additional research indicates that depression can be caused by an imbalance in neurotransmitters . Neurotransmitters are chemical substances used by the brain cells to communicate with one another. The two neurotransmitters with a major role in depression are: serotonin and norepinephrine. A serotonin deficit can cause sleep problems, irritability, anxiety (associated with depression), while a norepinephrine deficit can cause fatigue and a low mood. However, the neurotransmitter deficit is not the only cause of the chemical imbalance. One of the following situations can also play a major role in depression:

I). There are not enough receptor sites in the brain to receive neurotransmitters.
II). The neurotransmitters boomerang back to their starting point before reaching the receptors.
III). There is a deficit of chemicals that help in manufacturing neurotransmitters.
IV). The number of molecules that facilitate the neurotransmitter production is too small.

Medical studies also suggest that an important role in causing depression is played by a hormone called cortisol that is normally produced by the body in response to stress, fear, and anger. Usually the level of cortisol varies during the day, being high in the morning and decreases during the day. In depressed people, this hormone is present in high amounts all day long. Researchers have also proven that the amount of cortisol increases in people that experience a long-term stress.

3. Environmental Situations:
Certain life situations can cause depression, such as:

• The loss of someone loved by physical separation or death.
• The loss of possessions, belongings and positions (divorce, retirement, or job loss).
• The loss of personal goals and dreams.
• Lack of social support.

4. Substance Abuse: People that drink alcohol, use illegal drugs or have a substance abuse problem can develop depression.

5. Physical factors
Certain physical factors can cause depression. Some of these factors include:

• Lack of exercise: There is a significant relationship between an inactive life style and depression. Physical activity changes the brain chemistry causing improvements in mild to moderate depression patients. Research has proven that regular physical exercise influences the level of serotonin (the neurotransmitter that plays an important role in depression) leading to improved moods and feelings of well-being. Physical exercise burns the stress related chemicals (such as adrenaline) which helps the body to relax, increases the amount of endorphins, and boosts the body temperature which seems to help the body by influencing the brain chemicals. Exercising not only influences the brain chemistry, but also improves the person’s self-esteem, confidence, and can break down the pessimism because they are playing an active role in their recovery through positive and pleasant experiences.

• Nutritional deficiencies: Depression can be aggravated by nutritional deficiencies. The nutritional deficiencies include:
  
  - Excessive consumption of sucrose (sugar): Excessive amounts of sugar or sweet foods can aggravate depression.
  
  - Excessive amount of magnesium or vanadium.
  
  - Amino acids imbalance: Certain amino acids have similar properties with neurotransmitters, and play an important role in treating depression. A deficiency of these amino acids may lead to depression. They include:
  (1) Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a natural anti-anxiety chemical, is present in low amounts in depressed people.
  (2) L-tryptophan is a precursor to the serotonin synthesis that needs to be kept to a normal level in order to treat/prevent depression and maintain emotional balance.
  (3) Tyrosine is a precursor of two neurotransmitters, norepinephrine and dopamine, both playing an important role in controlling the mood.
  (4) DL-phenylalanine (DLPA or phenylalanine) is a precursor to the norepinephrine synthesis (neurotransmitters with an important role in depression). Norepinephrine controls the mood. A study conducted on depressed patients showed rapid improvement in those who received a supplement of phenylalanine and vitamin B6.
  
  - Food allergies
  
  - Excessive consumption of caffeine: A high intake of caffeine has being strongly linked to depression. A study conducted on healthy college students showed that moderate to high coffee drinkers obtained higher scores on a depression scale than those with a low coffee intake. Other studies have showed that depressed patients tend to drink higher amounts of coffee (more than 700mg per day).
  
  - Deficiencies of folic acid, vitamin B, vitamin C, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, or biotin.

6. Medical Disorders: People that suffer from medical disorders (such as diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular disease, hormonal disorders, lung disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, brain tumors, Parkinson’s disease, temporal lope epilepsy, systemic lupus erythematosus, AIDS, influenza, mononucleosis, syphilis -late stage, tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, viral pneumonia, Candida, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, fibromyalgia, hypoglycemia) and psychological disorders (such as anxiety disorders, phobias) also experience depression.

• Diabetes and Depression
  - People that suffer from adult onset diabetes have a 25 percent higher risk for depression.
  - Seventy percent of the patients that suffer diabetic complications suffer from depression.

• Heart Diseases and Depression
  - Forty to 65 percent of the patients that have experienced a heart attack suffer from depression.
  - Clinically depressed patients that have suffered a heart attack have a three to four times greater risk to die within the next six months.
  - Eighteen to 20 percent of the patients that suffer from coronary heart diseases, but did not experienced a heart attack suffer from depression.

• Stroke and Depression
  - Ten to 27 percent of patients that have experienced a stroke suffer from depression for at list one year after.
  - Fifteen to 40 percent of the stroke survivors experience depression symptoms within the next two months that follows the stroke.

• Cancer and Depression
  - One in four patients that suffer from cancer experience clinical depression (depression is not a side effect of the cancer treatment and it is not caused by the disease itself).

7. Medication: Certain medication (such as tranquilizers and sedatives, antipsychotic drugs, antihistamines, Beta-blockers, high blood pressure medications, birth control pills, anti-inflammatory agents, corticosteroids, adrenal hormone agents, Cimetidine, Cycloserine -an antibiotic, Indomethacin, Reserpine, Vinblastine, Vincristine) can cause depression as a side effect when administrated.

Article by Alina Morrow,
MS Psychology
OmniMedicalSearch.com
Depression Bibliography