About Psychological Depression

Depression is a medical illness affecting a person's mind and body. It affects how you think and act while causing a range of emotional and physical ailments. Depression disrupts your daily life. It not only torments the person suffering, but those who care about them.

Types

• There are several types of depression. The most common are major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder. Major depression is disabling and most often recurring. Dysthymic disorder is less severe and longer-term.

Symptoms

• People do not experience depression the same way. Symptoms of depression vary from person to person. Some common symptoms include a loss of interest in normal activities, feeling hopeless, irritable or restless, a loss of sexual interest or thoughts of suicide.

Causes

• There is no known cause for depression. It most likely is a combination of genetics, biochemical, environmental and psychological factors. Depression can run in families or can affect those with no known history. Trauma, loss or other stressful situations can often cause a depressive episode.

Complications

• Depression complicates many facets of a person's life. Depression not only affects the individual but also their family. Some complications are social isolation, anxiety, medical conditions like heart disease, alcohol or substance abuse and suicide.

Treatment

• There are many treatment types to combat depression. In some circumstances, your primary care doctor can help treat your depression. While in other instances, more benefit will be received from a mental health care professional. Treatment options include medications, psychotherapy and even electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).