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Cause of Clinical Depression

Several factors, including a person's lifestyle, biological makeup and family history of mental illness, increase a person's susceptibility to clinical depression. These factors promote chemical imbalances in the brain, causing clinical depression to worsen.

  1. Abnormal Neurotransmitter Levels in the Brain

    • Abnormal neurotransmitter levels, or a chemical imbalance in the brain's mood receptors, leads to clinical depression. This is purely a biological issue with no known predetermined cause.

    Family History of Depression

    • Clinical depression is also caused by a family history of depression. It is not known why this occurs, although scientists speculate the chemical imbalance is hereditary.

    Use of Medications

    • Some medications, including antidepressants and sleeping aids, cause clinical depression. It increases mood receptor imbalances in the brain.

    Traumatic Life Events

    • Traumatic life events, such as rape, loss of a family member or a major disaster, severely limits the brain's ability to produce serotonin. This affects the neurotransmitters in the brain, causing clinical depression.

    Pre-Existing Mental Illnesses

    • Depression often coincides with other mental illnesses, including anorexia nervosa and borderline personality disorder. This occurs because certain mental illnesses promote abnormal serotonin levels, promoting depression symptoms.

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