Depression: An Overview

Question:

What does depression look like? My husband has been unusually withdrawn and seems emotionally "low." His sadness has become a regular part of life in our household, and I’m concerned. What can I do?

Sadness — or depression?

Everyone feels down and sad sometimes. That’s a normal reaction to the disappointments, setbacks, and losses we all experience in life. But clinical depression is a very different kind of emotional and mental challenge. In fact, it can be debilitating and even deadly for those who suffer from it.

According to Beyond Blue, in any one year, around 1 million Australian adults have depression and almost half of Australians will have a mental health condition in their lifetime. Because depression is so widespread, it’s sometimes called “the common cold of mental illness.”

Causes of depression

Clinical depression seems to be connected with a deficiency or imbalance in neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain – substances such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

Stress also appears to play a role in triggering depression in some individuals.

And genetics are an important factor. Some types of depression tend to run in families, although it can also occur in people who have no family history of the disorder.

Signs and symptoms of depression

According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a diagnosis of clinical depression can’t be made unless a patient has at least five of the following symptoms for at least two weeks. Depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure must be among them:

Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day
Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all or almost all activities
Significant weight loss when not dieting, or weight gain, or significant decrease or increase in appetite
Changes in sleep habits, either insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeping more than normal)
Psychomotor agitation (such as restlessness or fidgeting) or impairment (sluggishness)
Lack of energy or fatigue
Feelings of worthlessness, or excessive or inappropriate guilt
Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

Dealing with depression

The good news is that depression doesn’t last forever. Effective treatments are available, and the sooner individuals get help, the faster their suffering can be resolved.

Antidepressant drugs are the primary biological treatment.
If antidepressants aren’t effective, therapies such as transcranial magnetic stimulation or electroconvulsive therapy might be recommended.
GP’s, Psychologists, counsellors, and other mental health professionals can guide individuals through different kinds of cognitive-behavioural, interpersonal, and psychodynamic therapies. For some people, learning new ways to think about a problem, approach a troubled relationship, or take charge of personal behaviours can provide a lot of relief.