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Depression

Introduction

Every person faces sadness and melancholy at some point of their lives. Though these states of mind are not pathological for everyone, however, may become certain for some people. When they suffer from a prolonged sadness or related severe symptoms of disparity and helplessness which may affect their ability of social interaction, carrying out daily chores, this sadness becomes a disease called depression (National Institute of Mental Health, pp. 2-24). Discussion

According to the latest diagnostic tools aimed at the correct diagnosis of severe depressive episode must occur 5 of 9 symptoms during the period of no less than two weeks: depressed mood with feelings of sadness, discouragement, despair, loss of interest and pleasure in the exercise of ordinary activities, change in body weight or significant loss of appetite, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation or retardation, tiredness or lack of energy, excessive feeling of guilt or low value, the limited ability of thinking and concentration, recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. Sometimes they can co-exist delirium or hallucinations (referred to in these cases of depression, psychotic or delusional) (APA, pp. 1-2). Some people in the course of his life may experience more depressive episodes - refers to recurrent depression, for which it is necessary to diagnose the occurrence of at least two depressive episodes. Unlike major depression, single episode, which occurs at the age of 55-60 years, this clinical form usually, occurs around the age of 35-40 years. 

Symptoms

Patients with depression have a strong sense of despair with the loss of the will to live: there is nothing for them to make sense, not able to enjoy anything, do not see their selves in the future and have no plans, dropping their self-esteem, which is accompanied by feelings of guilt and self-accusation. Facial expressions such people become monotonous with continuous expression of the pain, observe the scarcity of speech occurs; they experience the feeling of constant fatigue, often accompanied by various physical complaints (headache, dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms) (Trivedi, pp. 12-16). Less common condition associated with psychomotor excitement, fear him. Patients with depression often admit that they are no longer able to feel emotions, they feel indifferent, they lose all kinds of initiatives, do not take care of themselves, neglecting personal hygiene and clothing, complain of memory and concentration problems (Trivedi, pp. 12-16). 

Causes

The causes of depression are varied, but the biochemistry may help explain some cases. Depressed individuals show very high levels of cortisol ...