Hello everyone and welcome to this week's blog post. In this article, I will be discussing depression. I will first explain what depression is, before exploring its causes. I will then explore some of its treatment options, before concluding with my opinion on how the assessment and treatment depression will change in the future.
What is depression?
Depression is a serious medical illness with a wide variety of symptoms. These symptoms are often complex and range from continually having a low mood, feeling sad and guilt-ridden and finding it hard to make decisions. In addition to these psychological symptoms, there are also many physical symptoms associated with depression, including having a lack of energy, moving more slowly, changes in weight and muscle pains.
Furthermore, depression also results in social symptoms as well. For example, because someone constantly feels sad, they may not feel comfortable interacting with other people. This could result in them spending less time with friends and family and neglecting their hobbies and things they usually enjoy.
What are the causes of depression?
There are many different causes of depression, which include a range of genetic and environmental factors. For example, according to the NHS, people may be more vulnerable to getting depression if they have low self-esteem or feelings of worthlessness. These personality traits can be a result of genetic reasons or the environment they grew up in. In addition, there are certain medical conditions, such as insomnia and ADHD which are associated with an increased likelihood of getting this disease.
Moreover, depression can also be caused by traumatic events. These include major changes to one's personal life (e.g. bereavement and divorce), as well as physical trauma and stress. According to the mental health charity "Blurt", this can cause a downward spiral. This is where an initial event causes someone to feel slightly depressed and withdraw from activities they enjoy. Consequently, they could feel even more depressed, thus causing their mental health to continue to decline.
How can depression be treated?
There is a very strong stigma against seeking help with depression - many feel that they should 'tough it out' and 'try and get over it'. It is very important that this stigma is removed from society. Not only can depression be a serious illness which needs medical treatment, but the treatment itself is also more effective the earlier it starts. As a result, we should all feel comfortable approaching our GP or family doctor about our mental health and be willing to help our friends if they are feeling depressed or anxious.
The treatment of depression depends on the severity of the disease and the type of depression. In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence suggests that mild cases of depression should first be treated with 'watchful waiting'. This is where the patient will monitor their own health for a short period of time (e.g. 2 weeks) and see if any of the symptoms of depression resolve on their own. If they don't, then additional treatment options may be taken.
One of these treatments for mild depression is exercise. Indeed, one paper published in 2004, states that just 30 minutes a day of walking on a treadmill for 10 days was enough to produce a statistically significant reduction in depression. Consequently, those who are suffering from mild depression are often encouraged to do more exercise or join exercise groups.
Additionally, mild depression can also be treated through self-help solutions. These are remedies which aim to improve the mental health of patients by providing a safe space for them to talk about their experiences and personal feelings. These spaces range from local self-help groups to psychological therapy services.
For more severe forms of depression, treatment may include antidepressants. While these medications do not cure the cause of depression, they do help treat its symptoms. It should be noted that antidepressants should only be used sparingly, as they do have side effects and can also cause withdrawal symptoms when you try and come off the medication. Therefore, according to the NHS, antidepressants are not usually recommended for mild depression.
There are many different types of antidepressant, which all work in different ways. The most common class of antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Serotonin is a chemical that is secreted by nerve cells. While it is mostly found in the digestive system, it is also found in the central nervous system and platelets in the blood.
It is believed that serotonin plays a role in regulating mood - higher concentrations of serotonin are associated with increased happiness. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors work by reducing the uptake of serotonin in the brain, allowing the concentration of serotonin in the brain to remain high and thus improving mood.
In addition, there are also many other types of antidepressants. These include tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. As mentioned earlier in this article, antidepressants can have side effects including nausea, insomnia, anxiety, fatigue and dizziness. For this reason, antidepressants should be used carefully and only when other treatment options haven't been successful.
There are also many other types of treatment for depression, including cognitive behavioural therapy, where a therapist will talk to you and help you to overcome the negative thoughts you may be feeling. In addition, this therapy can also be combined with other treatments such as antidepressants and self-help therapy.
What is the future of depression?
I would argue that instances of depression will become increasingly more common in the future. One of the main reasons for this is the rise in social media usage, especially among younger children. This is because social media can cause people to feel anxious and worried, due to the 'fear of missing out' or 'not being as good as other people'. Indeed, a study published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology outlined a trial in which the participants spent on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat was controlled. In this study, they found that using less social media lead to a significant decrease in depression and loneliness.
While it is impractical to encourage everyone to stop using social media, it seems reasonable to suggest that people should be aware of how much time they are spending on social media and the impact that may be having on their mental health. Furthermore, children should also be educated about the dangers of using social media.
On the other hand, there may also be more research in depression in the future and more advancements in the understanding of the disease. Indeed, according to the NHS, we do not currently have a complete understanding of how antidepressants work and how they can help with the symptoms of depression. If we gain more understanding in this area, then it is possible that treatment will become more precise and more effective.
I hope you found this week's article informative and engaging. Make sure to subscribe to the email list below so that you get notified every time I post an article.
Sources:
Craft, L. L., & Perna, F. M. (2004). The Benefits of Exercise for the Clinically Depressed. Primary care companion to the Journal of clinical psychiatry, 6(3), 104–111. https://doi.org/10.4088/pcc.v06n0301
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/antidepressants/
https://www.webmd.com/depression/features/coping-with-side-effects-of-depression-treatment
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