Definition, Types, Causes,

Symptoms, Characteristics & Treatment

Depression
(A Suicidal Case)
Suicide is motivated by desire to
communicate feelings of
despair & to change the
behavior of other people.
Para suicide attempted suicide.
People talking about
committing suicide do not
actually go ahead and do it.
All people who commit suicide
definitely decided they want to
die.
Suicide occurs often among
people who are wealthy.
People who commit suicide are
crazy. Only few people who
commit suicide are truly out of
touch with reality.
People who commit suicide are
depresses beforehand.
The risk of suicide ends when a
person improves in mood
following a major depression and
or a previous suicidal crisis.
Suicide is influenced by the
cosmos-sunspot, phases of the
moon, the position of the planet,
etc.
An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts
and that affects the way a person eats, sleeps, feels
about himself or herself, and thinks about
things. Depression is not the same as a passing blue
mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a
condition that can be wished away. People with
depression cannot merely 'pull themselves together'
and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last
for weeks, months, or years.
Also Known As: depressive disorder, mood
disorder, major depressive
disorder, dysthymia, and dysthymic disorder.
Major depression is an episode of change in mood that lasts for weeks or
months. It is one of the most severe types of depression. It usually involves a low
or irritable mood and/or a loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. A person
may experience only one episode of major depressive disorder, but often there
are repeated episodes over an individual's lifetime.
Dysthymia, often commonly called melancholy, is less severe than major
depression but usually goes on for a longer period, often several years. There
are usually periods of feeling fairly normal between episodes of low mood. The
symptoms usually do not completely disrupt one's normal activities.
Bipolar disorder involves episodes of depression, usually severe, alternating
with episodes of extreme elation called mania. This condition is sometimes called
by its older name, manic depression.
Seasonal depression, which medical professionals call seasonal affective
disorder, or SAD, is depression that occurs only at a certain time of the year,
usually winter, when the number of daylight hours is lower. It is sometimes called
"winter blues."
Psychotic depression refers to the situation when depression and
hallucinations or delusions are experienced at the same time (co-occur). This
may be the result of depression that becomes so severe that it results in the
sufferer losing touch with reality.
Genetic (Heredity), biological, and environmental factors
Personality: People with certain personality traits are more likely to
become depressed. (Negative thinking, pessimism, excess worry, low
self-esteem).
Situations: Difficult life events, loss, change, or persistent stress can
cause levels of neurotransmitters to become unbalanced, leading to
depression.
Medical conditions: Depression is more likely to occur with certain
medical illnesses.
Substance abuse: While it has long been believed that depression
caused people to misuse alcohol and drugs in an attempt to make
themselves feel better (self-medication), it is now thought that the
reverse can also be the case; substance abuse can actually cause
depression.
Diet: Deficiencies in certain vitamins, such as folic acid and B-12, may
cause depression.

Adults: You may be said to be suffering from a major depressive
episode if you have a depressed mood for at least two weeks and have
at least five of the following clinical symptoms:
Feeling sad or blue
Crying spells
Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities
Significant increase or decrease in appetite
Significant weight loss or weight gain
Change in sleep pattern: inability to sleep or excessive sleeping
Agitation or irritability
Fatigue or loss of energy
A tendency to isolate from friends and family
Trouble concentrating
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
Thoughts of death or suicide

Children with depression may also experience the classic symptoms but
may exhibit other symptoms as well, including the following:
Poor school performance
Persistent boredom
Frequent complaints of physical symptoms, such as headaches and
stomachaches
Some of the classic adult symptoms of depression may also be more
obvious in children, such as changes in eating or sleeping patterns
(Has the child lost or gained weight in recent weeks or months? Does
he or she seem more tired than usual?)
Symptoms and signs of depression in teens may include more risk-
taking behaviors and/or showing less concern for their own safety.
Examples of risk-taking behaviors include driving recklessly/at
excessive speed, becoming intoxicated with alcohol or other drugs,
especially in situations in which they are driving or may be in the
presence of others who engage in risky behaviors, and engaging in
promiscuous or unprotected sex.

If your symptoms indicate that you have clinical
depression, your health-care provider will strongly recommend
treatment. Treatment may include addressing any medical
conditions that cause or worsen depression. For example, an
individual who is found to have low levels of thyroid hormone
might receive thyroid hormone replacement
with levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levoxyl). Other components of
treatment may be supportive therapy, such as changes in
lifestyle and behavior, psychotherapy, complementary therapies,
and may often include medication. If your symptoms of
depression are severe enough to warrant treatment with
medication, you are most likely to feel better faster and for
longer when medication treatment is combined with
psychotherapy.
SOURCES
BOOKS AND INTERNET (URL)
Wilkinson, J. D. (1997). Psychology in
counseling and therapeutic practice. New York:
john Wiley and Sons.
Psychology (Spencer A. Rathus)
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/depression/pa
ge7_em.htm#depression_treatment