· Approximately 20.9 million American adults, or about 9.5
percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year, have a mood disorder.1
·
The median age of onset for mood disorders
is 30 years.5
·
Depressive disorders often co-occur
with anxiety disorders and substance abuse.5
·
Major Depressive Disorder is the leading
cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15-44.3
·
Major depressive disorder affects approximately
14.8 million American adults, or about 6.7 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year.1
·
While major depressive disorder can
develop at any age, the median age at onset is 32.5
·
Major depressive disorder is more prevalent
in women than in men.6
·
Symptoms of dysthymic disorder (chronic,
mild depression) must persist for at least two years in adults (one year in children) to meet criteria for the diagnosis.
Dysthymic disorder affects approximately 1.5 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year.1 This figure translates to about 3.3 million
American adults.2
·
The median age of onset of dysthymic
disorder is 31.1
·
Bipolar disorder affects approximately
5.7 million American adults, or about 2.6 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year.1
·
The median age of onset for bipolar
disorders is 25 years.5
Source: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml#Dysthymic
What are the signs
and symptoms of depression?
People with depressive illnesses do not all experience the same symptoms.
The severity, frequency and duration of symptoms will vary depending on the individual and his or her particular illness.
Symptoms include:
- Persistent sad, anxious or "empty" feelings
- Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
- Feelings
of guilt, worthlessness and/or helplessness
- Irritability,
restlessness
- Loss of interest in activities or hobbies
once pleasurable, including sex
- Fatigue and decreased
energy
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering details
and making decisions
- Insomnia, early–morning
wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
- Overeating, or
appetite loss
- Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts
- Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps or digestive
problems that do not ease even with treatment
What causes depression?
There
is no single known cause of depression. Rather, it likely results from a combination of genetic, biochemical, environmental,
and psychological factors.
Research indicates that depressive
illnesses are disorders of the brain. Brain-imaging technologies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have shown that
the brains of people who have depression look different than those of people without depression. The parts of the brain responsible
for regulating mood, thinking, sleep, appetite and behavior appear to function abnormally. In addition, important neurotransmitters–chemicals
that brain cells use to communicate–appear to be out of balance. But these images do not reveal why the depression has
occurred.
Some types of
depression tend to run in families, suggesting a genetic link. However, depression can occur in people without family histories
of depression as well.9 Genetics research indicates that risk for depression results from the influence of multiple
genes acting together with environmental or other factors.10
In addition, trauma, loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, or any stressful situation may trigger a depressive
episode. Subsequent depressive episodes may occur with or without an obvious trigger.
Antidepressants work to normalize naturally occurring brain chemicals called neurotransmitters,
notably serotonin and norepinephrine. Other antidepressants work on the neurotransmitter dopamine. Scientists studying depression
have found that these particular chemicals are involved in regulating mood, but they are unsure of the exact ways in which
they work.
The newest and most
popular types of antidepressant medications are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs include fluoxetine
(Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), sertraline (Zoloft) and several others. Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
are similar to SSRIs and include venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine (Cymbalta). SSRIs and SNRIs are more popular than the
older classes of antidepressants, such as tricyclics–named for their chemical structure–and monoamine oxidase
inhibitors (MAOIs) because they tend to have fewer side effects. However, medications affect everyone differently–no
one–size–fits–all approach to medication exists. Therefore, for some people, tricyclics or MAOIs may be
the best choice.
For all classes
of antidepressants, patients must take regular doses for at least three to four weeks before they are likely to experience
a full therapeutic effect. They should continue taking the medication for the time specified by their doctor, even if they
are feeling better, in order to prevent a relapse of the depression. Medication should be stopped only under a doctor's
supervision. Some medications need to be gradually stopped to give the body time to adjust. Although antidepressants are not
habit–forming or addictive, abruptly ending an antidepressant can cause withdrawal symptoms or lead to a relapse. Some
individuals, such as those with chronic or recurrent depression, may need to stay on the medication indefinitely.
In addition, if one medication does not work,
patients should be open to trying another. NIMH–funded research has shown that patients who did not get well after taking
a first medication increased their chances of becoming symptom–free after they switched to a different medication or
added another medication to their existing one. 26,27
Sometimes stimulants, anti–anxiety medications, or other medications are used in conjunction
with an antidepressant, especially if the patient has a co–existing mental or physical disorder. However, neither anti–anxiety
medications nor stimulants are effective against depression when taken alone, and both should be taken only under a doctor's
close supervision.
Antidepressants
work to normalize naturally occurring brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, notably serotonin and norepinephrine. Other
antidepressants work on the neurotransmitter dopamine. Scientists studying depression have found that these particular chemicals
are involved in regulating mood, but they are unsure of the exact ways in which they work.
The newest and most popular types of antidepressant medications are called selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), sertraline (Zoloft) and several others.
Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are similar to SSRIs and include venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine
(Cymbalta). SSRIs and SNRIs are more popular than the older classes of antidepressants, such as tricyclics–named for
their chemical structure–and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) because they tend to have fewer side effects. However,
medications affect everyone differently–no one–size–fits–all approach to medication exists. Therefore,
for some people, tricyclics or MAOIs may be the best choice.
For all classes of antidepressants, patients must take regular doses for at least three to four weeks before they are likely
to experience a full therapeutic effect. They should continue taking the medication for the time specified by their doctor,
even if they are feeling better, in order to prevent a relapse of the depression. Medication should be stopped only under
a doctor's supervision. Some medications need to be gradually stopped to give the body time to adjust. Although antidepressants
are not habit–forming or addictive, abruptly ending an antidepressant can cause withdrawal symptoms or lead to a relapse.
Some individuals, such as those with chronic or recurrent depression, may need to stay on the medication indefinitely.
In addition, if one medication does not work, patients
should be open to trying another. NIMH–funded research has shown that patients who did not get well after taking a first
medication increased their chances of becoming symptom–free after they switched to a different medication or added another
medication to their existing one. 26,27
Sometimes stimulants, anti–anxiety medications, or other medications are used in conjunction with an antidepressant,
especially if the patient has a co–existing mental or physical disorder. However, neither anti–anxiety medications
nor stimulants are effective against depression when taken alone, and both should be taken only under a doctor's close
supervision.
Source: http://www.wingofmadness.com/Start-Here/64/depression-nimh#pub1
