Under the microscope: Depression

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Each week we look more closely at the most common health conditions.

This week, we're focusing on depression.

What is depression?

Depression is an illness that makes you feel extremely sad for an extended period of time, weeks and often months. It is very different to simply feeling miserable and often affects your everyday life.

Depression is a very common condition with real symptoms and effects and is definitely not a sign of failure or weakness.

What are the symptoms of depression?

If you are depressed, then you tend to lose interest in the things you used to enjoy. Many depressed people also ind that their relationships, social life and work life are also affected by the illness.

Depression has different levels, so you may find you only experience a few of the following symptoms.

Physical symptoms include:
- Change in appetite: eating less (or sometimes more) and less of weight
- Disturbed sleep
- Stomach complaints, such as indigestion
- Lack of energy and reduced sex drive
- Slowed movement, thought and speech

Psychological symptoms include:
- Feelings of hopelessness and despair
- Loneliness, even in company
- Low self-esteem
- Tearfulness
- Sense of failure
- Lack of motivation and often not even wanting to get out of bed
- Short temper and irritability

Who suffers from depression?

Women are more prone to getting depressed than men. Around 20-25% of women will suffer in their life, while 7-12% of men will get a bout of depression. Around 2% of teenagers will also become depressed.

There is a gene linked to depression, so if you have a family history of the illness then you are likely to inherit it and suffer yourself.

What causes depression?

Depression often happens as a reaction of a major event in life, like divorce, death in the family, redundancy, money worries or something similar. However, for some people it just happens naturally in their body. Often chemical changes in the body are a cause, which is why so many women suffer from depression during and after pregnancy.

How do I know if I'm depressed?

It can actually be quite difficult to diagnose yourself because your mind isn't working as well as it usually does. If possible, ask someone close to you to look out for the early signs of depression. It can be quite difficult for people who are depressed to admit to it, so you may need to agree how they will tell you beforehand.

If you think you are depressed, go and see you doctor who will talk to you, ask you questions about your mood and then be able to discuss treatments with you.

How is depression treated?

Your doctor will decide how serious your depression is. If it's mild, then your GP may decide to wait and see how you progress over a couple of weeks. Often symptoms reduce with an increase in exercise and reduction in things like alcohol and caffeine.

If the mild depression doesn't improve, or you have moderate depression, then your doctor will suggest antidepressants or a 'talking treatment' like counselling or cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).

If your symptoms are severe, then a combination of drugs and talking will be prescribed.

How long does depression last?

Without treatment, symptoms can last months and sometimes years. If you are prescribed antidepressants, they usually start to take effect after around 6-8 weeks.

Even if your symptoms disappear your doctor will recommend you stay on antidepressants for at least 6 months, because it can be dangerous to come off them suddenly.

Will I get depressed again?

Half of people who have suffered one bout of depression get another episode within 10 years. It is possible to reduce the likelihood of another bout of depression through exercise, good diet and keeping an eye on your symptoms.

- Read last week's Under the microscope: Menopause