Depression: is it genetics or emotion?

August 4, 10:32 PMAlbuquerque Depression ExaminerBonni Thompson

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           Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Human Brain

Clinical Depression, or Major Depressive Disorder, affects over 121 million people worldwide and is the second leading cause of disability (World Health Organization). Symptoms include a loss of interest in activities that used to bring pleasure, irritability, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, inappropriate guilt, recurring thoughts of death, and drastic changes in sleep and eating habits. To be considered Depression, symptoms must occur mostly every day for a period of longer than two-weeks, and will have a negative impact on relationships, work, and social functioning.

 Although these and other symptoms of Depression can be extreme or severe, it is possible to be suffering from Depression and not realize you are depressed. Some events, such as the end of a relationship or the death of a loved one, are clearly traumatic, and can lead to Depression, but Depression is not always caused by a single event, and can be caused by other factors such as chronic stress or childhood difficulties.

After analyzing years of research, physiologists, psychologists, medical doctors, and psychiatrists now generally believe that Depression is caused by biological and environmental factors combined with personal experience and psychological history (National Institute of Mental Health). To understand Depression, it is important to first understand the basic workings of the brain and the chemicals it uses to communicate with and regulate the body and its functions.

Whenever we think, feel, or do anything, chemical messengers called neurotransmitters are responsible for carrying the message from one brain cell to another. This chemical activity is reduced in the depressed person, resulting in a decreased ability to function mentally, emotionally, and even physically. These chemical messengers are carried by electricity and act quickly, but do not have long-lasting effect. The three neurotransmitters shown to be most involved in Depression are: serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine (All About Depression: http://www.allaboutdepression.com).

Hormones are released into the body through the endocrine system, a network of glands that works with the brain to control various functions of the body. The effects of hormones last a longer than the effects of neurotransmitters, but take longer to work. Changes in the brain chemistry of the depressed person are thought to affect the endocrine system through the hypothalamus, the brain structure that controls physical drives such as sleep, appetite, and sex drive, and abnormal levels of certain hormones have been found in those who are depressed even though these same people had healthy glands. The reverse can also be true, and those suffering from glandular illness such as hyperthyroidism can develop Depression.

By understanding the ‘how’ of Depression, we may better understand its symptoms and treatment options. Depression involves the body, mind, and heart (emotion), and produces a spiritual malaise. There are several types of Depression, and many different types of treatment. Some treatment options include antidepressant drugs, some involve cognitive or talk therapy, and some treatments use meditation and yoga. Still other options use a combination of these methods. It seems confusing and complex upon first glance, but Depression as an illness can be understood and managed one step at a time.