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| Getting up (Credit: 23HourParty) |
According to DSM-5 (Diagnostic Statistical Manual, 5th Edition), a person may have Major Depressive Disorder if he or she has experienced 5 or more of the symptoms below which persist for 2 weeks.
- Significant weight gain or weight loss (5% of body weight gained or loss)
- Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, self-blame, or fixated on past failures
- Struggles in thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
- Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
- Angry outburst, irritability or frustration over small matters
- Sleep disturbances (insomnia or sleeping too much)
- Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities, hobbies, sex or sports
- Lack of energy (small tasks requires extra effort)
- Apathetic
Causes
Many chemicals in our body and mind are involved in working in and out of our cells that ensures healthy well-being both in mind and body. However, it is not as simple as saying that there is a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes a person to develop depression.
It is no wonder that depression is also known as the Master of Disguise as it has the reputation of being well hidden within a person. This is also why many of those who suffer from depression mostly suffer in silence and without treatment.
Though it is important to understand that certain parts of our brain are responsible for balancing our moods, importantly, the nerve cells connection, growth and function. Despite researchers studying this, it's knowledge of neurological related to moods is still very much incomplete.
The 3 main areas of the brain that are affected:
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| Amygdala, Thalamus, and Hippocampus (Credit: ProProfs) |
- Amygdala
- Limbic system
- Responsible for emotions such as anger, pleasure, sorrow, fear and sexual arouse
- Activates when the person recalls a frightening memory
- Activity in this part of the brain increases when the person is sad or clinically depressed
- Continues even after recovery from depression
- Thalamus
- Receives most sensory information and relays to the appropriate part of the cerebral cortex such as speech, behavioral reactions, movement, thinking and learning
- It is suggested that Bipolar Disorder results from the issues in the Thalamus
- Hippocampus
- Part of the limbic system and plays a role in processing long-term memory and recollection
- This part of the brain is responsible for registering fear when encountered with a frightening situation
- Appears to be smaller or shrunk in those with depression as it is believed that the hippocampus nerve cells are damaged and that the stress impairs the growth cells related
The Neurotransmitters affected:
Researchers believed that there are a few different kinds of neurotransmitters that play a role in depression.
- Acetylcholine
- Relates to memory, learning and recalling
- Serotonin
- Responsible for sleep, appetite, mood, and pain
- Researchers noted that depressed people have a low level of serotonin transmission which contributes to a high risk of suicide
- Norepinephrine
- Responsible for motivation and reward
- Constricts blood vessels
- Raises blood pressure
- Triggers anxiety
- Dopamine
- Responsible for movement
- Related with psychosis
- Brain reward system
- Glutamate
- Excitatory neurotransmitter
- Related to Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia
- Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
- Acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter
- Thought to help calm anxiety
Cause in Other Factors:
- Genetic
- Family history of depression or bipolar disorder
- Environmental
- Pressure in the workplace, job scope or retirement
- Psychological Factors
- Triggered emotions from the past
- A recent traumatic or stressful event
References
Kerr, M. (2017). Major Depressive Disorder: Symptoms. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/clinical-depression#causes
WebMD. (2019). Major Depressive Disorder: Symptoms. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/major-depression#1
Mayo Clinic. (2019). Depression: Major Depressive Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007
Harvard Medical School. (2019). What Causes Depression? Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/what-causes-depression
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