DepressionBy: Whitney Porter

Table of Contents

What is Depression? Causes of Depression Symptoms of Depression Treatment of Depression Suicide Depression & Suicide Statistics Works Cited

What is Depression?

Depression is a common but serious mental illness that interferes with daily life

There are several types of depression. A general definition of depression: an

illness that affects, mood, thoughts, behavior, and overall health.

Types of Depression

Major depressive disorder› Can be very disabling› Some people have recurrences

Dysthmic disorder› Also known as mild chronic depression› Symptoms are suffered for a long time› Symptoms are not as sever as major depression, but still hard to function

Psychotic depression› Symptoms include hallucinations and delusions

Postpartum depression› Develops a few weeks after giving birth› 10% to 15% of women PND

SAD› Common the further from the equator you go› Symptoms usually go away during spring and summer› Light therapy works for about half of the patients with SAD

Bipolar disorder› Also known as manic depressive disorder› Patients experience highs and lows

Causes of Depression

Biology – Certain parts of the brain not working or chemical changes/imbalance

Genetics – Family history of depression Health Conditions Age Trauma – Abuse, death of a loved one, etc. Changes and Stressful Events – Divorce, sick

relative, job changes, marriage, etc. Medication & Substances – Certain prescriptions

have depressive side effects and substance abuse.

Adult American’s with a Depressive Disorder

Total Adults Women Men0

2,000,000

4,000,000

6,000,000

8,000,000

10,000,000

12,000,000

14,000,000

16,000,000

18,000,000

20,000,000

Symptoms of Depression

Loss of interest in day to day activities Weight change: weight gain or weight loss Sleep change Irritability Loss of energy or fatigue insomnia Low Self-esteem: Feelings of worthlessness,

hopelessness, and emptiness Changes in typical behavior Difficulty thinking and concentrating Increased aches and pains Thoughts of suicide

Treatment of Depression

Consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Possible treatment:› Medication› Psychotherapy (talk therapy)› Brain stimulant therapies like

Electroconvulsive therapy are sometimes used when medication and talk therapy do not work

Suicide

Untreated depression can greatly increase the risk of possible suicide

Some warning signs of suicide with depression:› A switch from being sad to calm› Always talking about death and/or suicide› Taking extreme risks› Putting affairs in order

Risk Factors:› In adults the strongest factors of attempted suicide are

depression, alcohol abuse, cocaine use, separation, or divorce

› In youth the strongest factors of attempted suicide are depression, alcohol or other drug abuse, aggressive behavior, and disruptive behavior

Top 10 causes of Death in the U.S. for Ages 18-65

(2007)

Malignant Neoplasm 184,190

Heart Disease 126,738

Unintentional Injury 78,327

SUICIDE 28,628

Diabetes Mellitus 21,143

Cerebrovasular 21,093

Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease 20,231

Liver Disease 19,796

Homicide 15,627

HIV 10,770

Suicides (2005)

Ages 15 to 24; 4,212

All others; 28,155

Ages 10 to 14; 270

Depression & Suicide Statistics

Everyone in their life will be affected by depression in some way Depression can be reliably diagnosed by a primary care

physician, but fewer than 25% have access to effective treatment.

1 in 33 children suffer from depression The elderly have higher suicidal tendencies, and the cost of

treating depression in the elderly is 50% higher. 54% of people believe that depression is a personal weakness 41% of women with depression are to embarrassed to seek help 80% of people with depression are not being treated 15% of people with a depressive disorder will commit suicide More than 4 times as many men than women die by suicide Every 2 hours and 11 minutes, a person under the age of 25

completes suicide.

Works Cited

www.dictionary.reference.com www.webmd.com/depression/recognizing-depres

sion-symptoms/commoncauses www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_signs_typ

es_diagnosis_treatment.htm www.medicalnewdtoday.com/articles/7822.php www.depressionperception.com/depression/depr

ession_facts_and_statistics.asp www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/3ages1965.shtml www.allaboutdepression.com/gen_04.html www.upliftprogram.com/depression_stats.html www.depressionstatisitics.org www.who,int/mental_health/management/depre

ssion/definition/en http://www.suicidology.org/c/document_library/g

et_file?folderId=232&name=DLFE-24.pdf