What causes depression?

Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
Updated on September 06, 2024
00:00
00:00

The causes of depression are not yet clear, and it may be closely related to multiple factors such as biological, psychological, and social factors.

Firstly, from a biological perspective, depression may involve genetics, biochemical factors, and endocrine factors, especially closely related to the secretion of serotonin and norepinephrine.

Secondly, psychological factors. The psychological characteristics and personality traits of patients, especially before the onset of depression, are closely related. Particularly, individuals with a depressive disposition are often more likely to develop depression.

Thirdly, social environmental factors. Particularly, encountering major negative life events is often an important contributing factor to clinical depressive episodes.

Therefore, the onset of depression is not caused by a single factor, but likely the result of multifactorial interactions, ultimately leading to the disease onset.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
1min 9sec home-news-image

How to explain mild depression

During the guidance process for patients with mild depression, cognitive behavioral therapy can be used. Cognitively speaking, the patient's low mood is caused by negative cognitions about themselves, the world, and the future, which we call the cognitive triad. They feel incompetent, worthless, and disliked in regards to themselves. They perceive the world as incapable or negative. Regarding the future, they feel unable to succeed and see themselves as failures, among other expressions. Therefore, the patient exhibits irrational and distorted cognitions. By observing these irrational cognitive patterns, we guide the patient to look for evidence, seek alternative explanations, make predictions, judgments, and responses, and resolve internal conflicts of thoughts through reality check methods, ultimately alleviating low moods. Additionally, behavioral methods, such as organizing a good life schedule and engaging in interesting activities, can also be used to enhance the patient's sense of pleasure and control, thereby improving their mood and ultimately achieving therapeutic effects.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
50sec home-news-image

How to treat geriatric depression effectively?

Elderly depression should be treated comprehensively. Firstly, it is important to enhance the diet and supplement nutrition. Secondly, through psychotherapy, mainly to alleviate or relieve symptoms, improve patients' compliance with drug treatment, and reduce or eliminate the adverse consequences of the disease. Thirdly, pharmacotherapy can involve the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, selective serotonin, and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, which are widely used in the treatment of elderly patients with depression. Fourth, modified electroconvulsive therapy is an option. Through the aforementioned comprehensive treatment, the clinical symptoms of depression can be improved. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
47sec home-news-image

What to do about insomnia caused by mild depression?

Patients with mild depression who experience insomnia symptoms can partly manage this through self-adjustment. For example, they can improve insomnia through exercise, especially two hours before bedtime, with medium intensity exercises to expend excess energy and ultimately achieve comprehensive muscle relaxation, leading to good sleeping habits. Additionally, in the treatment of mild depression, sedative antidepressants such as paroxetine, fluvoxamine, mirtazapine, and trazodone can be used, sometimes including tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline, which have been very satisfactory in their effects. Therefore, clinically, for insomnia in mild depression, both pharmacological treatment and self-adjustment methods can be adopted.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Chun Yun
Obstetrics and Gynecology
56sec home-news-image

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Symptoms

Premenstrual dysphoria is a symptom of premenstrual syndrome, which can manifest as mood instability, fatigue, changes in diet, sleep, libido, lack of concentration, inability to work normally or reduced work efficiency, and even a tendency to have accidents at work. There may also be criminal behavior or suicidal thoughts. Therefore, family members should actively take the individual to the hospital for treatment. With the comfort and guidance of a psychologist, the patient with premenstrual dysphoria can relax and re-enter life in a relaxed state, adapting to their role. At the same time, under the doctor's advice, some antidepressant medications should be taken, along with a reasonable diet and appropriate physical exercise, specifically following the doctor’s instructions.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
52sec home-news-image

Is depression hereditary?

Depression has a certain hereditary tendency. Studies involving large samples have found that if first-degree relatives of patients with depression have the disorder, the incidence of the disease in their offspring is significantly higher than in the general population. Additionally, studies on twins have shown that the concordance rate of depression in monozygotic twins is significantly higher than in dizygotic twins. Research in genetic studies has revealed that depression is a polygenic disorder. Therefore, it is possible for offspring of parents with depression not to inherit the disease. The onset of depression is often influenced by genetic factors, biochemical factors, and various social and psychological factors. Thus, the genetic probability of developing depression is generally higher than in the general population.