What Are The Potential Causes Of Depression?

by Rahul Singh Content Writer

Introduction

Depression is perhaps the most complex diseases known to man. It is also the most prevalent disease pertaining to psychology and psychiatry. What makes depression an even more puzzling disease to handle is the fact that no one knows how exactly it is caused.

Psychologists do have several factors they know which ‘could’ be responsible for causing depression, but nothing is certain. Psychologists at a hospital in Patna, which offers the best psychiatry treatment in Bihar and Jharkhand, say that some people experience depression during a serious medical illness, which is understandable. Others may experience depression due to certain major life changes such as moving from a place or the death of a loved one, which is again understandable. However, there are certain people who experience depression and are overwhelmed with sadness and loneliness for no known or comprehensible reason.

Potential Causesof Depression

Experts at the hospital in Patna deal with conditions such as anxiety disorders, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder every day. They have laid down certain factors which can potentially cause depression. Have a look:

Abuse: Past physical, sexual, or emotional abuse can increase the vulnerability to clinical depression later in life.
Certain medications: Some drugs, such as isotretinoin (used to treat acne), the antiviral drug interferon-alpha, and corticosteroids, can increase your risk of depression.
Conflict: Depression in someone who has the biological vulnerability to develop depression may result from personal conflicts or disputes with family members or friends.
Death or a loss: Sadness or grief from the death or loss of a loved one, though natural, may increase the risk of depression.
Genetics: A family history of depression may increase the risk. It's thought that depression is a complex trait, meaning that there are probably many different genes that each exert small effects, rather than a single gene that contributes to disease risk. The genetics of depression, like most psychiatric disorders, are not as simple or straightforward as in purely genetic diseases such as Huntington's chorea or cystic fibrosis.
Major events: Even good events such as starting a new job, graduating, or getting married can lead to depression. So can moving, losing a job or income, getting divorced, or retiring. However, the syndrome of clinical depression is never just a "normal" response to stressful life events.
Other personal problems: Problems such as social isolation due to other mental illnesses or being cast out of a family or social group can contribute to the risk of developing clinical depression.
Serious illnesses: Sometimes depression co-exists with a major illness or may be triggered by another medical condition.
Substance abuse: Nearly 30% of people with substance abuse problems also have major or clinical depression.