Key facts
- Depression is a common psychological disorder.
- It is estimated that 5% of adults in the world suffer from depression.
- Women get depressed more than men.
- Depression can lead to suicide.
- There is an effective treatment for mild, moderate and severe depression.
Overview
Depressive disorder (also known as depression) is a common mental disorder that involves being depressed or losing enjoyment or interest in activities for long periods of time.
Depression differs from the usual mood swings and fleeting emotions regarding the challenges of daily life. It can affect all aspects of life, including relationships with family members, friends, and the community. It can result from or lead to problems at school and at work.
Anyone can suffer from depression. People who have experienced abuse, severe losses, or other difficult situations are more likely to develop depression. Women are more susceptible to depression than men.
An estimated 3.8% of the population suffers from depression, including 5% of adults (4% of men and 6% of women), and 5.7% of adults over 60 years of age. About 280 million people in the world suffer from depression (1). Depression is approximately 50% more common among women than men. Globally, more than 10% of pregnant women and women who have recently given birth suffer from depression (2). More than 700,000 people die by suicide every year. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among people between the ages of 15 and 29 years.
Although there are known effective treatments for mental disorders, more than 75% of people in low- and middle-income countries do not receive any of these treatments (3). Barriers to accessing effective care include a lack of investment in mental health care, a shortage of trained health care providers, and social stigma associated with mental disorders.
Symptoms and patterns
During a depressive episode, a depressed person experiences a depressed mood (feeling sad, irritable, and empty). He may feel a loss of enjoyment or interest in activities.
A depressive episode differs from the usual mood swings. It lasts most of the day, and occurs almost every day, for at least two weeks.
There are also other symptoms of depression, including the following:
- Poor concentration
- Excessive guilt or low self-esteem
- Despair about the future
- Thinking about death or suicide
- Sleep disturbance
- Appetite or weight fluctuations
- Feeling tired or lack of energy.
Depression can lead to suffering in all aspects of life, including at home, work and school.
An episode of depression can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe depending on the number of symptoms, their severity, and the extent of their impact on the individual’s performance.
There are different types of depressive episodes, including the following:
- A single episode of depressive disorder, that is, the first and only episode that a person has;
- Frequency of depressive disorder, meaning that the person has previously suffered from at least two depressive episodes;
- And bipolar disorder, meaning that episodes of depression alternate with periods of manic symptoms, which include euphoria or irritability, increased activity or energy, and other symptoms such as excessive talk, racing thoughts, increased self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, easy loss of concentration, and behavior Impulsive and reckless.
Factors that contribute to depression and ways to prevent it
Depression results from a complex interaction between social, psychological, and biological factors. People who have lived through negative experiences (unemployment, loss of a loved one, or traumatic events) are more vulnerable to depression. Depression, in turn, can lead to more stress and impaired performance, lead to a deterioration in the affected person's life situation, and exacerbate the depression itself.
Depression is closely linked to physical health. Many of the factors that influence depression (such as physical inactivity or harmful use of alcohol) are also known risk factors for diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and respiratory disease. Conversely, people with these diseases can also find themselves suffering from depression due to the difficulties associated with managing their conditions.
Prevention programs have been shown to reduce depression. Effective community-based approaches to preventing depression include school-based programs aimed at promoting positive coping patterns in children and adolescents. Interventions for parents of children with behavioral problems can reduce parents' depressive symptoms and improve their children's outcomes. Exercise programs for older adults may also be effective in preventing depression.
Diagnosis and treatment
There are effective treatments for depression, including psychotherapy and medications. Seek care if you have symptoms of depression.
Psychological treatments are the first treatments for depression. It can be combined with antidepressant medications in cases of moderate and severe depression. It is not necessary to use antidepressant medications in cases of mild depression.
Psychological treatments can teach a person new ways of thinking, coping, or communicating with others. These therapies may include talk therapy with specialists and supervised lay therapists. Talk therapy can be done in person or online. Psychological treatments can be accessed through self-help brochures, websites and apps.
Effective psychological treatments for depression include:
- Behavioral activation
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Interactive psychotherapy
- Problem-solving therapy.
Antidepressant medications include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as fluoxetine.
Health care providers should keep in mind the adverse effects that may result from antidepressant medications, the feasibility of administering any of them (in terms of experience and/or availability of treatment), and individual options.
It should not be used to treat depression in children, nor should it be considered the first choice for treating adolescents, and extreme caution should be exercised when using it in their treatment.
There are different medications used to treat bipolar disorder.
Self-care
Self-care can play an important role in treating symptoms of depression and promoting overall well-being.
What you can do:
- Try to continue with activities that you used to enjoy
- Stay in touch with friends and family members
- Exercise regularly, even if it's just walking short distances
- Stick to regular eating and sleeping habits as much as possible
- Avoid or limit alcoholic beverages and do not use illicit drugs that may worsen depression
- Talk to someone you trust about your feelings
- Seek help from your health care provider.
If you have suicidal thoughts:
- Remember that you are not alone, and that many people have gone through what you are going through and are getting help
- Talk to someone you trust about your feelings
- Talk to a health worker, such as a doctor or counsellor
- Join a support group.
If you think you are in imminent danger of harming yourself, call any available emergency services or crisis telephone line.