Depression Information Page

Definition

Depression is a mood disorder characterized by low spirits and general loss of interest in life. For most people the period of depression is brief and has no significant effect on their activities, however clinical depression is more serious and can become debilitating. Clinical depression is characterized by feelings of sadness, disappointment, loneliness, hopelessness, self doubt, and guilt that lasts for more than two weeks. This depressed state makes activity difficult, and if the depression is severe it can result in the person completely withdrawing from the world.

Depression may be triggered by a specific event in a person's life, such as loss of a loved one or loss of a job, but often depression has no recognizable cause. It is thought that the tendency toward some types of depression is inherited.

Depression is associated with an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. The brain is made up of a network of nerve cells called neurons. Messages are transmitted from one neuron to another by chemicals called neurotransmitters. In cases of depression, the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine may not be produced in sufficient quantities. The result is that too few messages are transmitted and the symptoms of depression occur. It is believed that a lack of serotonin causes sleep problems, irritability and anxiety, and a lack of norepinephrine causes fatigue, feelings of hopelessness, etc.

Modern medicine generally treats depression with medication, psychotherapy, or both. If patients do not respond to or cannot tolerate antidepressants, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be used. ECT is a procedure where an electrical stimulus is administered through electrodes to the head. It is a controversial treatment and is usually prescribed when a person does not respond to medication or psychotherapy.

Major depression is so severe that it interferes with activity and a person's ability to cope with life. People experiencing major depression cannot continue to function normally. This type of depression lasts for at least two weeks, and sometimes as long as several months. It may occur just once, or several times during a person's life.

Dysthymia

Dysthymia is also called chronic or minor depression. A person must have been depressed for at least 2 years to be diagnosed as having dysthymia. It is a milder form of depression that affects moods, but does not prevent a person from functioning in the world.

Bipolar Depression

Bipolar depression is also called manic-depression and is characterized by alternating moods of depression and elation or mania. The mood swings are most often gradual, but sometimes they can be quite sudden and dramatic. Mania is associated with thinking and behavior that appears to be inappropriate and out of control. It is thought that the tendency for bipolar depression may be inherited.

Seasonal Affective Disorders

Seasonal affective disorder is a form of depression that occurs during the winter months. It is a result of the lack of sunlight, although the exact mechanics of how this works are not completely understood. Since sunlight increases the production of serotonin in the brain, the lack of sunlight is associated with lack of serotonin production. Seasonal affective disorder is more prevalent in women than men.

Symptoms of Depression

Symptoms of Mania

Depression Statistics

Hazards of Modern Medicine
Pertaining to Chronic Depression
Avoided by Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health

Drugs of "Modern" Medicine and their side effects

1. Selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors
2. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
3. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

For bipolar depression, mood stabilizers such as lithium are also used.

Selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors

Selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac are a newer class of antidepressant that work by affecting the action of seratonin in the brain.

Tricyclic antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil are an older class of antidepressant that elevate moods by raising the level of neurotransmitters in brain tissue. They generally have more severe side effects than selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as Mardil block the action of a chemical substance known as monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the nervous system. They work more quickly than tricyclic antidepressants, but have more serious side effects. They also require a change in diet. They are usually prescribed when other antidepressants do not work.

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