Depression is a common but serious mood disorder that causes severe symptoms affecting how one feels, thinks and handles daily activities. It has genetic, biological, environmental and psychological causes and can occur at any age. While there is no cure, depression can be effectively treated through medications, psychotherapy and other therapies. Maintaining social connections, physical activity, a healthy lifestyle and seeking help can help prevent or manage depression.

1. DEPRESSION
DISEASE PROJECT 7TH GRADE HEALTH
By Juliet Stacey

2. What is Depression?
◦ Depression (major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is a common but serious mood disorder. It causes
severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working.
◦ Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the U.S. Current research suggests that depression is
caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.
◦ Depression can happen at any age, but often begins in adulthood. Depression is now recognized as occurring in
children and adolescents, although it sometimes presents with more prominent irritability than low mood. Many
chronic mood and anxiety disorders in adults begin as high levels of anxiety in children.
◦ Depression, especially in midlife or older adults, can co-occur with other serious medical illnesses, such as diabetes,
cancer, heart disease, and Parkinson’s disease. These conditions are often worse when depression is present.
Sometimes medications taken for these physical illnesses may cause side effects that contribute to depression. A
doctor experienced in treating these complicated illnesses can help work out the best treatment strategy.

3. Different Types of Depression
Some forms of depression are slightly different, or they may develop under unique circumstances, such as:
◦ Persistent depressive disorder (also called dysthymia) is a depressed mood that lasts for at least two years. A person diagnosed
with persistent depressive disorder may have episodes of major depression along with periods of less severe symptoms, but
symptoms must last for two years to be considered persistent depressive disorder.
◦ Postpartum depression is much more serious than the “baby blues” (relatively mild depressive and anxiety symptoms that
typically clear within two weeks after delivery) that many women experience after giving birth. Women with postpartum depression
experience full-blown major depression during pregnancy or after delivery (postpartum depression). The feelings of extreme
sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that accompany postpartum depression may make it difficult for these new mothers to complete
daily care activities for themselves and/or for their babies.
◦ Psychotic depression occurs when a person has severe depression plus some form of psychosis, such as having disturbing false
fixed beliefs (delusions) or hearing or seeing upsetting things that others cannot hear or see (hallucinations). The psychotic
symptoms typically have a depressive “theme,” such as delusions of guilt, poverty, or illness.
◦ Seasonal affective disorder is characterized by the onset of depression during the winter months, when there is less natural
sunlight. This depression generally lifts during spring and summer. Winter depression, typically accompanied by social withdrawal,
increased sleep, and weight gain, predictably returns every year in seasonal affective disorder.
◦ Bipolar disorder is different from depression, but it is included in this list is because someone with bipolar disorder experiences
episodes of extremely low moods that meet the criteria for major depression (called “bipolar depression”). But a person with
bipolar disorder also experiences extreme high – euphoric or irritable – moods called “mania” or a less severe form called
“hypomania.”

4. History of Depression
Depression has always been a health problem for human beings. Depression was initially called "melancholia". The earliest accounts of
melancholia appeared in ancient Mesopotamian texts in the second millennium B.C. At this time, all mental illnesses were credited to demonic
possession, and were attended to by priests. In contrast, a separate class of "physicians" treated physical injuries (but not conditions like
depression). The first historical understanding of depression was thus that depression was a spiritual (or mental) illness rather than a physical
one.
Ancient Greeks and Romans were divided in their thinking about the causes of melancholia. Literature states that mental illness was caused by
spirits or demons. Hippocrates, a Greek physician, suggested that personality traits and mental illnesses were related to balanced or
imbalanced body fluids called humours. There were four of these humours: yellow bile, black bile, phlegm and blood. Hippocrates classified
mental illnesses into categories that included mania, melancholia (depression), and phrenitis (brain fever). Hippocrates thought that
melancholia was caused by too much black bile in the spleen. He used bloodletting (a supposedly therapeutic technique which removed blood
from the body), bathing, exercise, and dieting to treat depression.
In the last years before Christ, the views of Hippocrates faded, and the main view among educated Romans was that mental illnesses like
depression were caused by demons and by the anger of the gods. For instance, Cornelius Celsus (25BC-50 AD) recommended starvation,
shackles (leg irons), and beating as "treatments." In contrast, Persian physicians such as Rhazes (865-925), the chief doctor at Baghdad hospital,
continued to view the brain as the cause of mental illness and melancholia. Treatments for mental illness often involved hydrotherapy (baths)
and early forms of behavior therapy (positive rewards for proper behavior).
After the fall of the Roman empire in the 5th century, scientific thinking about the causes of mental illness and depression again regressed.
During the Middle Ages, religious beliefs, specifically Christianity, controlled popular European explanations of mental illness. Most people
thought that mentally ill people were possessed by the devil, demons, or witches and were capable of infecting others with their madness.
Treatments of choice included exorcisms, and other more barbaric strategies such as drowning and burning. A small minority of doctors
continued to believe that mental illness was caused by imbalanced bodily humors, poor diet, and grief. Some depressed people were tied up or
locked away in "lunatic asylums".

5. History of Depression con’t
During the Renaissance, which began in Italy in the 14th century and spread throughout Europe in the 16th and 17th
centuries, mental illness was characterized by both forward progress and regression. On the one hand, witch-hunts and
executions of the mentally ill were quite common throughout Europe. On the other hand, some doctors returned to the views
of Hippocrates, claiming that mental illnesses was due to natural causes, and that witches were actually mentally disturbed
people in need of humane medical treatment.
In 1621, Robert Burton published Anatomy of Melancholy, in which he described the psychological and social causes (such as
poverty, fear and solitude) of depression. In this work, he recommended diet, exercise, distraction, travel, purgatives (cleansers
that purge the body of toxins), bloodletting, herbal remedies, marriage, and even music therapy as treatments for depression.
During the beginning of the Age of Enlightenment (the 18th and early 19th centuries), it was thought that depression was an
inherited, unchangeable weakness of temperament, which lead to the common thought that affected people should be
shunned or locked up. As a result, most people with mental illnesses became homeless and poor, and some were committed
to institutions.

6. What is the cause of depression?
Depression is an extremely complex disease. No one knows exactly what causes it, but it can occur for a variety of reasons. Some people
experience depression during a serious medical illness. Others may have depression with life changes such as a move or the death of a loved one. Still others
have a family history of depression. Those who do may experience depression and feel overwhelmed with sadness and loneliness for no known reason.
There are a number of factors that may increase the chance of depression, including the following:
◦ Abuse. Past physical, sexual, or emotional abuse can increase the vulnerability to clinical depression later in life.
◦ Certain medications. Some drugs, such as isotretinoin (used to treat acne), the antiviral drug interferon-alpha, and corticosteroids, can increase your risk
of depression.
◦ Conflict. Depression in someone who has the biological exposure to develop depression may result from personal conflicts or disputes with family
members or friends.
◦ Death or a loss. Sadness or grief from the death or loss of a loved one, though natural, may increase the risk of depression.
◦ Genetics. A family history of depression may increase the risk.
◦ Major events. Even good events such as starting a new job, graduating, or getting married can lead to depression. So can moving, losing a job or income,
getting divorced, or retiring. However, the syndrome of clinical depression is never just a "normal" response to stressful life events.
◦ Other personal problems. Problems such as social isolation due to other mental illnesses or being cast out of a family or social group can contribute to
the risk of developing clinical depression.
◦ Serious illnesses. Sometimes depression co-exists with a major illness or may be triggered by another medical condition.
◦ Substance abuse. Nearly 30% of people with substance abuse problems also have major or clinical depression.
Depression is a non-communicable disease.

7. How does it affect the body?
Signs and Symptoms
If you have been experiencing some of the following signs and symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, you may be
suffering from depression:
◦ Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
◦ Feelings of hopelessness, or pessimism
◦ Irritability
◦ Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
◦ Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
◦ Decreased energy or fatigue
◦ Moving or talking more slowly
◦ Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still
◦ Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
◦ Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
◦ Appetite and/or weight changes
◦ Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
◦ Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment.
**Not everyone who is depressed experiences every symptom. Some people experience only a few symptoms while others may experience many.

8. Can depression be prevented?
◦ Although depression is generally not a preventable condition, lifestyle can play a part in its progression. Making changes now can
offer long-term benefits to your mental health. Here are some helpful hints that may assist you in keeping depression at bay.
◦ Stay active: Not only is physical activity good for your physical health, but it can also improve depression, anxiety, and overall
mood. Engaging in almost any type of physical activity for at least 30 minutes, three to five times a week, is enough to serve the
purpose.
◦ Stay connected: Maintaining a social life helps to keep the mind occupied and fulfilled. Social support is also important during life's
many challenges. Those who suffer from depression have the tendency to withdraw from friendships and relationships, causing
loneliness and isolation. Taking steps to stay involved with the people in your life and reaching out to meet new ones can help to
prevent this from happening.
◦ Find an outlet: Sometimes the support of a friend or family member is not enough. Preventive therapy, whether you choose to see
a school therapist, a private therapist one-on-one, in a support group, or even online counseling, can give you insight into your
situation and help you through it. Activities such as yoga, journaling, drawing, or reading, can help to relieve stress and serve as a
distraction.
◦ Care for your physical health: Being in poor physical health can have a negative effect on your mental well-being. Getting
adequate sleep, regular physical exams, and eating a healthy diet are important steps for most health conditions, depression
included.
◦ Watch your alcohol intake: Although it's important for all people to moderate the amount of alcohol they drink, those prone to
depression should pay special attention to their intake or consider avoiding alcohol entirely. Not only is alcohol a mood-altering
depressant drug, but those at risk for depression are also at greater risk of alcohol abuse and developing alcoholism.
◦ Plan ahead: Being prepared for life changes can help to create a sense of order and ease your mind about the uncertainties of the
future. Though it is impossible to predict the outcome of every situation you encounter, planning how you will handle stress
triggers, if they arise, will reduce anxiety and allow you to seek support should you need it.
There is no vaccine to prevent depression.

9. How is it treated? Is there a cure?
Depression, even the most severe cases, can be treated. The earlier that treatment can begin, the more effective it is. Depression is usually
treated with medications, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two. If these treatments do not reduce symptoms, electroconvulsive
therapy (ECT) and other brain stimulation therapies may be options to explore.
◦ Medications
Antidepressants are medicines that treat depression. They may help improve the way your brain uses certain chemicals that control mood or
stress. You may need to try several different antidepressant medicines before finding the one that improves your symptoms and has
manageable side effects. A medication that has helped you or a close family member in the past will often be considered.
◦ Psychotherapies
Several types of psychotherapy (also called “talk therapy” or counseling) can help people with depression. Examples of evidence-based
approaches specific to the treatment of depression include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), and problem-
solving therapy.
◦ Brain Stimulation Therapies
◦ If medications do not reduce the symptoms of depression, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be an option to explore. Based on the
latest research:
◦ ECT can provide relief for people with severe depression who have not been able to feel better with other treatments.
◦ Electroconvulsive therapy can be an effective treatment for depression. In some severe cases where a rapid response is necessary or
medications cannot be used safely, ECT can even be a first-line intervention.
**ECT may cause some side effects, including confusion, disorientation, and memory loss. Usually these side effects are short-term, but
sometimes memory problems can linger, especially for the months around the time of the treatment course.
Currently there is NO cure for depression, only treatment.

10. What would you do if you had this
disease?
◦ I chose to do my project on depression because I have lived with depression for two years now. I
take anti-depressants and attend counseling. While the medication and counseling does work.
There are still times that I display the signs and symptoms listed on the prior pages. There is
currently no cure for depression, only treatment. While depression is non-communicable, there
is some evidence that suggests it is hereditary. Both my parents suffer from depression and I
have depression.