Depression: The Invisible Disease

Depression: The Invisible Disease
Arin Fletcher

Depressive illnesses are serious medical illnesses that affect more than 19 million American adults age 18 and over each year. Clinical depression is persistent and can interfere with an individual’s ability to function in every day life.

Symptoms of major depression include: distinctly depressed or irritable mood, loss of interest or pleasure, weight/ appetite changes, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, appearing slowed or agitated, fatigue and loss of energy, feeling worthless or guilty, poor concentration, indecisiveness, recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. A diagnosis of major depressive disorder is made if an individual demonstrates 5 or more of the above symptoms.

Nearly twice as many women as men are affected by a depressive disorder each year. It can occur in any women, at any time, and for various reasons regardless of age, rave or income. Many factors may contribute to depression in women, such as developmental, reproductive, hormonal, genetic, and other biological differences. Social factors may also lead to higher rates of clinical depression among women, including increased stress in the work force, family responsibilities, the roles and expectations of women and increased rates of sexual abuse and poverty. In general stresses in life may be a contributing factor for all young adults both male and female. College life can be a very stressful transition for young adults for many reasons: greater academic demands, being on your won in a new environment, changes in family relations, financial responsibility, changes in social life, exposure to new people, ideas, and temptations, preparing for the real world.

Interesting facts about depression:

Approximately 12 million women in the United States experience clinical depression each year

About one in every eight women can expect to develop clinical depression during their lifetime.

Strong relationship between eating disorders and depression in women. About 90-95% of cases of anorexia occurs in young females.

Major depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S and worldwide.

Depressive disorders affects an estimated 9.5% of adult Americans.

Antidepressant medications are widely used to effectively treat depression. These drugs influence the functioning of certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Certain types of psychotherapy, specifically cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy have been found to be beneficial. In more sever cases electroconvulsive therapy may be considered.