Causes & Risk Factors of Clinical Depression

Clinical depression, now widely considered a chronic illness, is one of the most common conditions in the world. Some people are more prone to have clinical depression than others.

Types

• There are several types of depression: major depressive disorder, a depression that interferes with a person's daily living; dysthymic disorder, a long-term but less severe depression that interferes with daily life; psychotic depression, which deals with a break with reality; postpartum depression, which occurs within a month after giving birth; and seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a depressive illness that strikes in the winter months.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of depression include persistent fatigue, sadness, anxiety, feelings of emptiness, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, feelings of worthlessness, changes in appetite, thoughts or attempts of suicide, pessimism and insomnia.

Risk Factors

• While depression can strike at almost any age, the median age of onset is 32, according to the University of Maryland. Women, African-Americans and the poor are also at the highest risk, although white men over 85 have the highest rate of suicide of any group.

Causes

• A combination of genetic, biochemical, environmental and psychological factors cause clinical depression. This includes family history, hormonal imbalances and high stress.

Prevention/Solution

• Getting enough sleep, eating right, learning how to control stress and maintaining a strong social network are all ways to lessen chances of succumbing to depression.