Depression is characterized by low mood, lack of interest in activities, and decreased activity in parts of the brain. It can range from mild to severe, affecting one's ability to function. The symptoms are caused by reduced levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. Treatment may involve lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, medication to increase neurotransmitter levels, electroconvulsive therapy for severe cases, or light therapy for seasonal depression.

1. Depression
Depressionisacomplex of psychological andphysical symptoms.Low moodlevel orsadnessisoften
the most prominentsymptom.The commonpropertyof these symptomsisadecreasedactivity
level inpartsof the brain.
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THE SYMPTOMSOF DEPRESSION
Depressionmaygive one ormore of these symptoms:
-Lowmoodlevel orsadness.
-Lack of joy or interestinactivitiesthatwere joyfulbefore.
-Pessimism.
-Feel of guiltof somethingwithoutany substantial reasontofeel so.
-Inferioritythoughts.
-Irritability.
-Slownessinthe thoughtprocess.
-Slownessininterpretingsensorial stimuli.
-Slownessof digestionorotherinternal physicalprocesses,andsymptomscausedbythisslowness,
for example inflatedstomach,constipationordifficultiesbyurination.
-Slowphysical reactions.
Depressioncanbe a milddisease thatonlycauses some annoyance inthe dailylife,butcanalso get
veryseriousandmake a persontotallyunable toworkandunable toparticipate insocial life.By
depressionof some severity,there isalsoagreaterriskof suicide.
Depressioncanoccur inall age classes.Inteenagerslackof interestinschool work,withdrawal from
social life anddifficultmoodcanbe signsof depression.
THE PHYSIOLOGICALCHANGESTHAT PRODUCE THE SYMPTOMS
By depressionthereisadecreasedamountof neurotransmittersinpartsof the central nervous
system,mainlydeficiencyof serotonin,butalsotosome extendof noradrenalin,acetylcholine,
dopamine orgamma-amino-butyricacid(GABA),orthe nerve cellsdonotreact properlyby
stimulationfromneurotransmitters.A neurotransmitterisasignal substance thattransmitsthe
nerve signal throughthe junctionsbetweentwonerve cells.
Serotoninandnoradrenalincause nervecellstosendimpulsesalongtoothernerve cells,andthus
increase the activityinthe brain.Deficiencyof these substancescausesslownessinpartsof the
brain,and that againcausesthe depressivesymptoms.
The role of GABA is the opposite,namelytoslow downsome nerve impulses,mainlythose causing
anxietyandpanicresponse.Lackof GABA causeshigheranxietyandeasierpanicresponse.Yet,lack
of thistransmitteralsoseemstocause depressive symptoms.Thisisbecause atoo highactivityin
some brainprocessesmayslowdownotherprocesses.
There are manycausesand subtypesof depressionwithdifferentphysiological mechanisms
involved.

2. TYPES OF DEPRESSION
Depressionisoftendividedintosubtypesaccordingtoexhibitedsymptoms.
1. Mono-polardepressionanddysthymic disorder
By mono-polardepressionthere are pure depressivesymptoms.Mildcasesof mono-polardisorder
that do notaffecta personsabilitytoworkand to participate insocial activitiesare oftencalled
dysthymicdisorder.
2. Bipolar disorder(manic-depressivedisease) andcyclothymicdisorder
In thisconditionthere are periods withsymptomsof depression –the depressivephase,alternating
withperiodsof elevatedmoodlevel withincreasedmental andphysical activity –the manicphase.
In the manicphase,the affectedpersonalsosleepspoorlyandhasconcentrationdifficulties.A mild
formof thisdisease iscalledcyclothymicdisorder.
3. Manic disorder
Thisconditionischaracterizedbyabnormallyelevatedmood,byunrealisticoptimism, bylackof
sleepandbyhyperactive behaviour.Manypsychiatriststhinkthatthisdisorderissimplythe same
disease asbipolardisorderwherethe depressive face hasnotyetoccurred.
4. Depressionwithmainly physical symptoms
Sometimesthe physical symptomsof depressionare alone ordominant,asforexample:Digestive
problems,constipation,difficultieswithurination,slow response tosensorial stimuliorslow physical
reactions.
CAUSES OF DEPRESSION
Two or more factors can have an effectsimultaneouslytocause depression.Depressioncanbe an
independentdisease,orapart of other disease.Depressionisalsodividedintodifferentsubtypes
accordingto cause.
1. Reactive depression
Thisdisease issimplyaresultfrompsychological stress,physical struggleormental strainingwithout
properrestor sleepoveralongtime period.The strainingwill simplywearoutthe nervoussystem
or deplete the organismfromnutrientnecessaryforthe nervoussystemtoworkproperly.
2. Endogenousdepression
Whenthere has notbeenanyperiodof stress,strainingorlack of restthat can explain the condition,
the conditionisoftencalledendogenousdepression.Inheritance isthoughttobe a part of the
cause.
3. Depressionbyphysical disease
Depressionordepressivesymptomsmaybe asymptomof physical disease.Thisisperhapsthe most
commoncause of depression.Generallythere are three categoriesof diseasesthatgive depression:

3. Diseasesoftenassociatedwithdepressionare:Heartdisease,Parkinson’sdisease,stroke,
hypertensionorCushing’ssyndrome.
Mononucleosisorflumaytrigger depressionthatcontinuesafterthe infectionhasgone.
By lack of thyroidhormones,hypothyroidism, the metabolisminthe whole bodyissloweddown,
includingthe productionof neurotransmittersinthe brain.Therefore depressionisanimportant
symptomof hypothyroidism.
4. Depressive symptomsas a consequence ofunsound lifestyle
A general unsoundlifestyle withtoolessexercise,toomuchof stimulantslike alcohol,coffee ortea,
too lessof importantnutrientandtoomuchof sugar and fatmay give depressive symptoms,aswell
as physical problems.
5. Postnatal depression
Womenwill oftenhave aperiodof depressionafterpregnancyandberthof the babyPregnancyand
berthisphysicallyandmentallyexhausting,andmaydrainthe body fornutrient.Thisinturncan
cause depressive symptoms
6. Seasonal affective disorder
Depressioncanoccur incoldand dark periodsof the yearand go awayin warmand lightperiods.
Lightstimulatesbrainactivity,andlackof lightisa causative factor.
TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION
Seriousorprolongeddepressionisoftentreatedwithanti-depressive medication.Medicinesused
againstdepressiongenerallyincrease the levelof neurotransmitterslikeserotonininthe central
nervoussystem,ortheymimicthe neurotransmitters.
The medicationsmostlyusedtodayincreasethe serotoninconcentrationbydecreasingthe removal
of serotoninfromthe space aroundnerve cells.Examplesof thismedicationtype are:Fluoxetine
(Prozac),fluvoxamine (Luvox),paroxetine(Paxil),escitalopram(Lexapro,Celexa),sentraline (zoloft).
By bipolardisorderinthe manicface,heavytranquilizers(neuroleptica) are usedtostopthe manic
symptoms.Bybipolardisorder,lithiumsaltsare sometimesusedtostabilize the condition,and
preventnewoutbreak of depressive ormanicfaces.
Psychotherapyissometimesusedbydepression,usuallyincombinationwithmedication.
Sometimesseriousdepressionistreatedbyapplyingelectricshockthroughthe head,
electroconvulsive therapy.The shockinducesepilepticeruptionof nerve signalsthroughthe brain
and thisgivescrampsthroughoutthe body.The cramps are alleviatedorstoppedbyapplying
anaesthesiabefore the electroshock.Thisformof treatmentiscontroversial,since itcancause
memorylossandis suspectedof causingbraindamage.The possibilityof braindamage ishowever
deniedbymostpsychiatrists.
By seasonal depression,lighttherapymaybe useful.
Adjustmentof lifestyleshouldalwaysbe consideredbydepressionordepressive symptoms.Lifestyle
measurescansometimesbe enoughtocure depressive symptomsbefore aseriousdepression
develop. Lifestyleadjustmentscanbe:
– To slowdowna stressful life withtoomuchworkor activities.

4. – Enoughrestand sleep.
– A good dietwithenoughof necessarynutrients.
– Some physical exercise.
– Meditation.
– Supplementof vitamins,minerals,antioxidants,lecithin,aminoacidsandessential fattyacids.
– Stimulantslikecoffee orteamayhelpagainstdepressive feelingsinmoderate amount. However,if
youare a heavyuserof these stimulants,youshouldcutdownonyourconsumption.
There existnutritional productsinthe markedtohelpagainstdepressivesymptoms.These contain
ingredientsthatthe brainusesas buildingblocksforneurotransmitters,forexampleaminoacidsand
lecithin.Theyalsooftencontainvitaminsandmineralsthatthe brainusesastoolsto produce
neurotransmitters,especiallyvitaminB6.
Supplementsmayfurthercontainherbal extractsthattriggerhigherbrainactivitymuchlike anti-
depressivemedications,butmayhave fewerside effects.
By MelloZ