Tackling the blues - facts about depression

Final facts about depression


Current statistics

• One in four women and one in six men will suffer from depression at some stage in their lives.
  
  
• Each year, almost 800,000 Australian adults will experience a depressive illness1.
  
  
• Depression is the third most common cause of illness among women and the tenth most common cause among men1.
  
  
• In 2001, Australian GPs reported depression as the fourth most common illness that they dealt with in their practices2.
  
  
• Depression is the leading cause of disability in Australia1.
  
  
• Depression alone counts for more days lost to the workplace than those lost to industrial action1.
  
  
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has predicted that by 2020, depression will be the second biggest health problem world-wide, behind heart disease2.

What is depression?
Depression is a common and genuine medical condition causing physical and psychological symptoms that require professional treatment. It is the leading cause of suicide in Australia, yet often goes unrecognised or treated3.


Who suffers from depression?
Depression can affect anyone from any educational or socio-economic background. Michaelangelo, Isaac Newton and Winston Churchill all suffered from depression, along with current Australian celebrities Rachel Griffiths, Garry MacDonald and Adriana Xenides2.


What causes depression?
Depression is often caused by a variety of internal and external factors, including:

External factors

• Family conflict
  
• Interpersonal conflict
  
• Bereavement
  
• Job loss
  
• Major life changes
  
• Drug and alchol abuse

Internal factors

• Previous negative experiences
  
• Personality (eg. perfectionism)
  
• Medical illness / treatment eg. stroke, thyroid problems
  
• Family disposition3

Symptoms of depression
Depression creates both mental and physical symptoms in our thinking, feeling and bodily experience, as well as our behaviour. These symptoms can vary from one person to another. Symptoms may change throughout the day, but are usually worse after waking up in the morning.
Common symptoms include:

Feelings

• Hopelessness and helplessness
  
• Unhappiness and loss of confidence
  
• Tension and anxiety
  
• Irritability, anger or fear

Thoughts

• Difficulty concentrating
  
• Difficulty making decisions
  
• Suicidal
  
• Memory loss
  
• Major life changes
  
• Guilt, worthlessness or being unwanted

Behaviours

• Inability to enjoy normal things
  
• Slow reactionsIrresponsible behaviour
  
• Neglect of one's appearance

Physical symptoms

• Continual tiredness and easy tiring
  
• Sleeping problems eg. early waking
  
• Eating problems eg. poor appetite, weight loss
  
• Headache, constipation or indigestion2

Common behaviours associated with depression
Behaviours commonly associated with depression include:

• Increased drug and alcohol use
  
• Withdrawal from social events
  
• Increased irritability and frustration with minor events
  
• Moodiness out of proportion to recent events
  
• Heightened sensitivity to minor personal criticism
  
• School or workplace absenteeism
  
• Increased complaints about physical health problems eg. fatigue or pain
  
• Loss of interest in food, sex, exercise and other enjoyable activities
  
• Insomnia
  
• Recklessness / taking unnecessary risks eg. driving fast and dangerously

Often these behaviours are difficult to live with and cause significant concern to close family and friends3.

Who (personality-wise) is at risk of depression?
Those with the following personality types are at risk of depression:

• Lifelong worrier
  
• Perfectionist
  
• Sensitive to personal criticism
  
• Unassertive
  
• Low self-esteem
  
• Self-critical and negative
  
• Shy and socially anxious3.

What are the different types of depression?
The different types of depression which often have different symptoms and may require different treatments, include:

1. Psychotic depression - a severe form of depression associated with hallucinations or delusions
   
   
2. Melancholia - a severe form of depression often linked to emoional and physical slowing and severe disruption of sleep, appetite or concentration
   
   
3. Major depression - a consistently depressed mood for at least two weeks associated with a loss of pleasure in most activities, causing a loss of personal, social and work function
   
   
4. Dysthymia - chronically low mood often extending over years, resulting in persistent loss of work and social function
   
5. Mixed anxiety and depression - the most common form of low mood associated with many physical health problems and common social stressors
   
   
6. Manic depressive illness (bipolar disorder) - depression as part of a more severe illness associated with high and low periods of moodiness, varying from mild to very severe3
   

Key life stages of depression
Depression may change its form at different stages of the life cycle, as follows:

• Adolescence - common onset which may be associated with loss of energy and social withdrawal. May also result in disruptive behaviour or drug and alcohol abuse
  
  
• Post-natal - common after childbirth, varying from mild to very severe
  
  
• Post-menopausal - may become more severe in some women after menopause
  
  
• Late-life - may occur for the first time in later life, particularly in association with certain types of physical illness, including heart disease and stroke3.

What changes take place in the brain during depression?
Nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other by means of chemical substances. During depression, the normal supply of these substances is reduced.

Antidepressants can help to restore these deficiencies by influencing certain chemical messengers in the brain and helping to re-establish normal brain functioning.


What treatments are available for depression?
There are several different treatments available for depression which are often used in combination. The use of pyschotherapy (counselling or 'talking therapy') and antidepressant drugs is well-supported by a large base of empirical evidence. There are also various self-help treatments, such as taking regular exercise, eating a balanced diet and getting sufficient rest2.


What treatment has recently become available for depression and how does it work?
Avanza (mirtazapine) has recently become available for the treatment of depression in Australia. With its broad action, it stimulates chemical messengers in the brain and helps to re-establish normal functioning. Its two way action means that it increases the levels of two chemical messengers - noradrenaline and serotonin - which are important in controlling mood.

The product should be taken with water at the same time everyday for at least six months, or as long as recommended by a doctor to prevent relapse. It is not addictive and long-term treatment should not have any negative effects on the patient4.

For more information about depression, please visit www.beyondblue.org.au, www.depressionservices.org.au or contact a local self-help group.



Related Links

• Depression treatment keeping sex drive in top gear
  
• Lifting the lid on depression - Newspoll findings
  
• Heather Mellor
  
• Professor Graham Burrows