Description of Depression
Depression has been a part of the human condition--and experienced in various forms--for millennia. As the field of psychology has developed, so has our perception of depression, what causes it, who has it and why. There are those who experience episodes of depression one or two times in their lives, and those who are plagued with its symptoms for decades. The term now encompasses an array of disorders that includes bipolar disorder, post-partum depression and more.
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Depression in History
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The first descriptions of depression have been traced to the Bible, according to Dr. Roxanne Dryden-Edwards, assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital; in it, both King David and Job suffer from depression, despite not having the correct term to describe it at that time. People with symptoms of depression in the 19th century were said to have weak temperaments. In the 20th century, Sigmund Freud determined that depression was a mere symptom of a person's "inner guilt and conflict."
Depression in Modern Times
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By the 1950s, psychologists had divided the affliction into two disorders: endogenous and neurotic. The former referred to a problem that was either generated within the body, had been genetically inherited or simply developed with no distinct cause; the latter referred to an environmental factor causing the disorder, like the death of a spouse or loss of a job. Since that time, psychologists have gone further to clarify depression as being more intense and lasting longer than general sadness, including symptoms that can interfere with a sufferer's daily activities.
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Symptoms of Depression
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Despite the fact that there are now a variety of forms of depression that afflict sufferers, there are certain symptoms that generally accompany all types. It is possible that you have depression if you have crying spells without reason, low levels of energy, decreased interest in sex, insomnia, changes in weight and thoughts of death or suicide. If you are uninterested in activities you used to enjoy and have feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, you may be depressed. You may also be at risk of depression if it is in your family history, especially bipolar disorder.
Forms of Depression
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The basic types of depression one may be diagnosed with include major depression, dysthymia, bipolar disorder and post-partum depression. Major depression is diagnosed when a patient has irritable, sad moods for two weeks or more that inhibit a sufferer's abilities to sleep, eat and work. A less severe form of this affliction is dysthymia. It lasts longer than major depression, however, and leaves sufferers with an overall feeling that they cannot perform to their full potential. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, involves cycles of highs, or mania, and lows, or depression. This is a chronic ailment that requires lifetime treatment. Post-partum depression (PPD) develops in women after giving birth. PPD can be emotional and physical, usually presenting itself in mood swings, crying spells, sadness, anger, loneliness and anxiety. Severe forms of PPD are called post-partum psychosis and can include losing track of reality, hallucinations, strange behaviors, and suicidal or homicidal thoughts. Suicide and Mental Health Association International reports that an average of 10 percent of mothers experience some level of PPD, though post-partum psychosis is very rare.
Other Types of Depression
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There are several other depression disorders that have been characterized more recently, including Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), situational depression and catatonic depression. SAD is diagnosed when patients suffer from depression at specific points over the course of a year. Situational depression is experienced when a patient becomes depressed in response to a situation or event. Professionals will diagnose catatonic depression in persons who develop purposeless movement of their limbs, lose voluntary movement, lose the ability to react to their environment in an appropriate manner, resist instructions, are incapable or unwilling to speak, and who involuntarily repeat someone else's movements or words.
Treatment for Depression
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There are different treatment regimens for different forms of depression. The starting point for persons who are experiencing depression symptoms is psychotherapy, or counseling, where a professional psychologist observes the patient to determine the next steps. If talk therapy is insufficient, medication can be prescribed. There are a variety of medications on the market for depression, including SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Zoloft or Prozac; SNRIs, or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, including Effexor and Cymbalta; NDRIs, or norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors, including Wellbutrin; MOAIs, or monoamine oxidase inhibitors, including Nardil and Parnate; and tricyclic antidepressants, including Vivactil and Elavil.
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