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Why Is Depression So Pervasive & Difficult to Treat?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression affects about 7% of the American adult population. More people may actually suffer from depression than reported because of the stigma attached to mental disorders. Depression has many causes and treatments, but "curing" depression remains a challenge.

  1. Causes

    • Depression can be caused by physical factors (genetics, chemical imbalances), emotional factors (low self esteem), and/or environmental factors (stress or financial hardship). Since there are many different causes, depression can afflict people regardless of sex, age, race or socioeconomic status.

    Diagnosis

    • Diagnosing depression is difficult because some aspects of the disease are subjective depending on the patient and the doctor. Some people do not realize that they actually have a disease. Others may fear the stigma of a mental disease and therefore refuse to admit they are suffering.

    Therapy

    • Psychotherapy is the treatment of depression through therapy. Counseling, usually including supportive talk therapy and cognitive problem solving, can be essential for treatment. The success of therapy is highly dependent upon the doctor or counselor and the cooperation of the patient.

    Drug Treatment

    • SSRIs are drugs that help regulate serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is essential to brain function. Some people must cycle through different types of SSRIs until they find one that works with their chemistry and causes no major side effects.

    Reoccurrence

    • In the July 1999 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, T.I. Mueller states that depressive episodes can reoccur in up to 82% of sufferers. Depression is difficult to treat because there are many causes, different levels of affliction and numerous treatments.

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