Causes of Depression: Stress, Genetics and Chemical Imbalance

The question of what causes depression has no simple answers. All that is known for certain is that depression is the leading reason people seek mental health care. A clear connection exists between depression and biochemical imbalances in the brain. It's less clear whether external factors (stress orgrief, for example) cause the biochemical imbalance, or if the biochemical imbalance makes a depressed patient more susceptible to the external factors.

 

 

What is known is that almost one third of all mental health patients suffer from depression. And professionals suspect that many more people suffer through bouts of depression without receiving the mental health care they need. Often, substance abuse is seen with sufferers of depression, perhaps as an attempt to self-medicate and alter and improve their daily perception of life.

 

Ten percent of the male population will suffer from depression at some point in their lives. Rates of depression in women are even higher – 25 percent. Teenage depression is also on the rise, a problem that's reflected in the fact that half a million teenagers attempt suicide every year in the United States alone.

Some types of depression, such as bipolar disorder and severe major depression, appear to run in families, which indicates a genetic susceptibility to depression. However, just because one family member suffers from depression, does not automatically mean that other family members will be affected. And people with no family history of depression are also affected, so depression is more than genetic.

Emotional and medical stress can also influence the predisposition, occurrence and severity of depression. A family crisis, personal loss, chronic illness, problems at home, at work or with finances can trigger depression symptoms. Stress plays an important role in depression. In fact, a vital aspect of depression treatment is stress reduction.

Recent studies have indicated that imbalances in the brain's serotonin levels can cause depression. Serotonin is one of the key mood regulators in the human brain. Too little serotonin leads to depression, and irregular serotonin levels contribute to bipolar disorders or manic depression. A new family of pharmaceuticals called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can help regulate the brain's serotonin levels, and bring relief to those suffering from depression.

No one is entirely certain whether personal experience or biochemical imbalances cause depression. Both therapy and drug treatments have proven effective in combating major depression, so the answer may lie somewhere in between.