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BACKGROUND REPORT MARCH 19, 2009
Unipolar depressive disorders
Unipolar depressive disorders, commonly
known as depression, are some of the most pervasive medical conditions
in the world. Depression affects the brain and can interfere with daily
life, causing a person to persistently feel sad and empty, and lose
interest in activities.
While depression is primarily a psychological
illness, it can lead to physical symptoms such as headaches and pain
that affects a number of organs.
Depression can be chronic. At its worst,
it can lead to suicidal thoughts and actions.
Depression affects about 121 million
people around the world and is among the leading causes of disability.
The lifetime risk of developing depression is between 10 and 20 percent
in females, and slightly lower for males. However, less than 25 percent
of people who suffer from depression have access to treatment, according
to the World Health Organization.
Antidepressant medications and psychotherapy are effective for 60 to
80 percent of those affected with depression, according to the WHO.
In many countries, a lack of resources and providers, plus a social
stigma on the disease, can act as barriers to treatment.
The average age of onset for major depression
is between 20 and 40 years of age, meaning that it usually affects people
during their most productive years of life.
Severe depression can lead to suicide,
which claims about 850,000 lives each year.
The exact cause of depression is unknown
but it is thought be caused by a combination of genetic, biomedical
and environmental factors.
Depression often runs in families, which
may be due to genes or to learned behavior. Studies have shown that
depression is more common in people with family members that have suffered
from depression as well.
Hormonal imbalances, or irregularities
associated with neurotransmitters, which are brain chemicals that affect
mood, are also thought to play a role in depression. Traumatic, sad
or stressful situations in life can often trigger depression.
Depression is more than feeling down,
it is a persistent and often chronic combination of debilitating symptoms
that may include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, anxiety
and irritability.
It can lead to lack of interest in activities
that the person used to get satisfaction from, and can cause fatigue,
trouble sleeping, unintentional weight loss or gain, and the inability
to make decisions.
Physical problems, such as aches and pains, headaches and stomachaches
may manifest from depression.
There is no sure way to prevent depression,
but taking steps to build relationships and boost self esteem may prevent
some depression. In times of crisis or trauma, seeking counseling and
support from friends and family may help prevent onset of depression.
Treatment during the earliest stages of depression may prevent it from
getting worse.
Even at its most severe, depression is
highly treatable. It can be treated with a number of medications, psychotherapy,
electroconvulsive therapy or alternative therapies. A combination of
medication and psychotherapy is commonly prescribed.
Antidepressants work to normalize naturally
occurring brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, especially serotonin
and norepinephrine. The newest, most commonly prescribed are called
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. All antidepressants can have
side effects so patients need to be monitored and evaluated by their
doctors.
Psychotherapy involves helping patients
understand their thoughts and behaviors and work through problems that
may be contributing to depression. It may also involve learning ways
to change thinking and behavior patterns.
Electroconvulsive therapy, a sometimes
controversial treatment also known as electroshock, can be an effective
relief for some severe cases of depression by administering electrical
impulses through the brain.
Sources: The World Health Organization,
the Mayo Clinic, the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National
Institute of Health.
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