Depression
Depression is a psychiatric disorder in which someone experiences; hopelessness, dejection, poor concentration, lack of energy, inability to sleep, and, sometimes, suicidal tendencies. There are different types of depression; Seasonal affective disorder (usually brought about in winter due to short days); postnatal depression "baby blues"; Bipolar disorder (manic depression) and the list goes on. It is difficult to find information of what chemicals specifically cause depression but it would appear that our emotions affect the chemicals produced in our brain and the chemicals produced in the brain affect our emotions. Imbalances of stress hormones such as Cortisol, Serotonin and Noradrenaline are believed to play an important role.
Is it curable? There are antidepressants available which hope to chemically cure the imbalance or hormones which, according to the royal college of physiatrists, are not fully understood how they work. However increased activity in neural transmitters and Serotonin inhibitors seem to slightly alleviate the symptoms. There are 5 main types of antidepressant;
- Tricyclics
- MAOIs (Monoamine oxidase inhibitors)
- SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)
- SNRIs (Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors)
- NASSAs (Noradrenaline and Specific Serotoninergic Antidepressants)
After 3 months of treatment, state of Depression is much improved in 50-65% of patients compared with the 25-30% given a placebo according to the royal College of Phychiatrists.
In my opinion I think that Depression should be treated at the cause which in 90% of the time is due to events or circumstances in someones life. I appreciate loss of loved ones and similar circumstances nothing can be done about but a healthier mind is one that is fixed by its owner rather than a doctor and drugs. The change of outlook to someones life is essential in treating depression