DEPRESSION

FACTS:-

 Symptoms must last at least two weeks for a diagnosis of

depression.
 Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistently low
mood and a feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It is a
persistent problem, not a passing one, lasting on average 6 to 8
months.
 Temporary emotional responses or fluctuations to the challenges
of everyday life do not constitute depression.
 Depression is likely to be due to a complex combination of factors
that include genetics, psychological and social, environmental ,
biological such as change in neurotransmitter levels.
 Chronic illness such as diabetes, hypertension , heart related
diseases, AIDS , kidney diseases etc can also lead to depression.
 Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.
 Globally, more than 300 million people of all ages suffer from
depression.
 At its worst, depression can lead to suicide. Close to 800000
people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the second leading
cause of death in 15-29-year-olds.(accidents are the first leading
cause).
 Anxiety and depression disorders are closely related. Nearly 50%
of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an
anxiety disorder.
  Depression is by far the most prevalent, representing 99% of all
mind-brain illness. (Schizophrenia and major psychotic illness
represent the remaining 1%).
 It Is the primary reason why someone dies of suicide about every
13 minutes– over 41,000 people a year.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN DEPRESSION IS LEFT UNTREATED ?:-

WHAT RESEARCH STUDIES TELL US ABOUT DEPRESSION ?

 For instance, the hippocampus, a small part of the brain that is

vital to the storage of memories, appears to be smaller in some
people with a history of depression than in those who've never
been depressed.
 Scientists do not know why the hippocampus may be smaller in
some people with depression. Some researchers have found that
the stress hormone cortisol is produced in excess in depressed
 people. These investigators believe that cortisol has a toxic or
"shrinking" effect on the development of hippocampus.
 The latest scans and studies of brain structure and function
suggest that antidepressants can exert what are called
"neurotrophic effects," meaning that they can help sustain nerve
cells, prevent them from dying, and allow them to form stronger
connections that withstand biological stresses.
(https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/causes-
depression#2)
(https://www.elsevier.com/about/press-releases/research-and-
journals/hippocampal-volume-loss-in-depression-reflects-glial-
loss)
 According to a recent study published in the journal
EClinicalMedicine, there appears to be a connection between
social media use and depressive symptoms in 14-year-olds. To be
clear, this study does not prove causation, but the correlation
between social media use and depressive symptoms is one that
should sound alarm bells.
 A separate study from the University of Pennsylvania and

published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology found

that, among 18-22-year-old undergraduate students, decreasing
social media use leads to significant decreases in both depression
and loneliness.
(https://guilfordjournals.com/doi/10.1521/jscp.2018.37.10.751)

 While depression is often thought of as a mental illness, it also

plays a heavy role in appetite and nutrition. Some people cope by
overeating or bingeing. This can lead to weight gain and obesity-
related illnesses, such as type 2 diabetes.
 Depression is more typically thought of as strictly biochemical-
based or emotionally-rooted. On the contrary, nutrition can play a
key role in the onset as well as severity and duration of
depression. Many of the easily noticeable food patterns that
precede depression are the same as those that occur during
depression. The most common vitamin and nutritional
deficiencies that lead to onset of depression are
 omega-3 fatty acids
 B vitamins
 minerals
 amino acids

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2738337/)

 Recurrence of cardiovascular problems is linked more closely to

depression than to other conditions. Untreated, depression raises
the risk of dying after a heart attack. Heart disease is also a trigger
for depression. 15 percent of people with heart disease also
develop major depression.
(https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16917-

depression--heart-disease)
 Under stress, your heart also pumps faster. Stress hormones
cause your blood vessels to constrict and divert more oxygen to
your muscles so you’ll have more strength to take action. But this
also raises your blood pressure. As a result, frequent or chronic
stress will make your heart work too hard for too long. When your
blood pressure rises, so do your risks for having a stroke or heart
attack.
 Stress stimulates the immune system, which can be a plus for
immediate situations. This stimulation can help you avoid
infections and heal wounds. But over time, stress hormones will
weaken your immune system and reduce your body’s response to
foreign invaders. People under chronic stress are more
susceptible to viral illnesses like the flu and the common cold, as
well as other infections. Stress can also increase the time it takes
you to recover from an illness or injury.