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Hannah Ward

English Composition II

Angela Pedrotti

19th October 2020

How Does Clinical Depression Develop? Literature Review

Depression, a mental health condition caused by periods of sadness and mood swings is a

disorder that affects roughly seven percent of U.S. adults each year (“Depression”) (Gale

Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection). Numbers of those affected are rising yearly, Harvard

Review of Psychiatry states that depression will likely be the leading cause of disease burden by

the year 2030. Although depression can be caused by many things, including trauma, the

environment, and stress, more than forty percent is related to genetics. But how does depression

develop?

Many people believe that depression can only be caused by events that happen in one’s

life. While many cases are environmental, about as equally many are caused by genetics. Those

with a history of depression in the family are at a much greater risk of developing some sort of

the illness, they’ll have two to three greater times of a chance, and even greater of a risk if their

relative experienced depression early on in life, or had it recurring (Fabian) (“Is Depression

Genetic?”). A study done by The American Journal of Psychiatry shows that over 800 families

suggest that severe genetic depression is caused by the chromosome 3p25-26. This gene has only

shown causes in severe depression, so it is likely that there are other chromosomes that play a

part in more minor cases of depression.

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Women are more prone to develop depression due to hormonal changes and pregnancy.

8.7 percent of women are diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, while only 5.3 percent of

men are diagnosed (Depression) (Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection). Many of the

sub types of depression relate directly to female hormones, like perinatal depression, which is

depression during pregnancy, and postpartum depression, experienced after giving birth.

Roughly twenty percent of women experience depression during or after pregnancy. Women are

known to tend to be more emotional than men, and are more likely to rehash negative thoughts,

but research shows that this can lengthen or worsen a depressive episode (Gregory Ph.D.)

(Depression in Women).

Treatment in depression varies on many things, but according to the American

Psychiatric Association, 80 to 90 percent of those diagnosed with depression will experience

positive results from treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy has become a common use for

mental health practitioners, replacing defeating habits with things like exercise, social events,

and an adequate sleep schedule. Antidepressants are the most common prescribed treatment for

depression but can take up to six weeks to become fully effective. They also can create negative

effects such as suicidal thoughts and worsening depression, rather than treating it. The most

interesting form of treatment is through hallucinogenics. Some researchers have found positive

reactions to psychedelic mushrooms and ketamine (Depression) (Gale Opposing Viewpoints

Online Collection). There are many possible forms of treatment for depression, but not all will

work for everyone.

Depression can develop in multiple ways, through genetics, the environment one is in,

trauma, and many other ways but it is usually treatable when caught early on. Many people are
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hesitant to open up about their depression, but almost everyone has experienced some form of it

in their lifetime. No one’s depression is exactly the same as someone else’s, but it can develop

the same through genetics.

Bibliography

"Depression." Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2020. Gale In Context:

Opposing Viewpoints,  https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/PC3010999281/OVIC?

u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=0d608645Accessed 19 Oct. 2020.

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Gregory, Christina Ph.D. “Depression in Women.” Psycom.

https://www.psycom.net/depression.central.women.html Accessed 21 Oct. 2020.

Dunn, Erin C. ScD, MPH, et al. “Genetic Determinants of Depression.” Harvard Review of

Psychiatry.

https://journals.lww.com/hrpjournal/Fulltext/2015/01000/Genetic_Determinants_of_Depression_

_Recent.1.aspx.%20Accessed%208%20Oct.%202020 Accessed 19 Oct. 2020.

Fabian, Renee. “Is Depression Genetic?” Talkspace. https://www.talkspace.com/blog/is-

depression-genetic/ Accessed 19 Oct. 2020.

Levinson, Douglas F. M.D, Nichols, Walter E. M.D. “Major Depression and Genetics.” Stanford

Medicine. https://med.stanford.edu/depressiongenetics/mddandgenes.html Accessed 21 Oct.

2020.