Yaditzel Garrido¹

and

Mario Pimentel²

Clinical Psychologist in training ¹

Educational Neuropsychologist ²

Have you ever felt like you have no motivation for anything or seen someone engulfed in insurmountable sadness? Depression is not just about feeling sad; we could say that depression is like a monster that we cannot see, but can certainly feel, as it directly impacts how we think, how we feel, and how we behave.

▶️ Depression is a word used in everyday language to describe a range of feelings, including sadness, frustration, disappointment, and sometimes lethargy. However, in clinical practice, the term "depression" or "major depression" is more intense, lasts two weeks or more, and significantly interferes with daily functioning.

It is a mood disorder; severe depression can lead to something worse, such as suicide, as it consists of a lack of hope for living. According to the DSM 5, there are many types of disorders related to depression, which we will mention below:

  • ✅ Major depressive disorder (often referred to as depression)
  • ✅ Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)
  • ✅ Others are classified by etiology: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, etc.

Depressive disorders can occur at any age, but they typically develop in mid-adolescence and adulthood.

Risk Factors and Causes

It is important to understand that depression is not caused by a single factor, but by a combination of factors that interact with each other.

Genetic Factors:

  • ✅ According to studies conducted, genetics can be related in many cases of depression. The studies show that variations in genes may influence this disorder. However, genetic studies do not fully demonstrate who may develop this illness.

Research by authors Sullivan PF, Neale MC, and Kendler KS (2000) has found a high incidence of depression among first-degree relatives of individuals with the disorder.

Environmental Factors and Life Experiences:

  • ✅ The risk of suffering from this disorder increases significantly when having unpleasant experiences, such as physical or sexual abuse, emotional abuse, loss of a loved one, or stressful events. These mentioned events can cause lasting damage to the mental, physical, and emotional health of those who have experienced them and, consequently, increase the risk of developing depressive disorders.

Chemical Imbalances in the Brain:

  • ✅ This disorder is also related to chemical imbalances in the brain, specifically with abnormal levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters play a key and very important role in regulating mood, and any change or alteration in their function can significantly affect the development of depression.

Research like that conducted by Belmaker RH, and Agam G (2008) titled “Major Depressive Disorder” has investigated the biological mechanisms underlying depression.

These are just some examples of the various causes and risk factors that can contribute to the development of depression.

As we have read, depression is a complex disorder caused by the combination of various factors, such as genetic factors, experiences, and chemical variability in the brain. The importance of addressing this disorder from a multidimensional and multidisciplinary perspective is crucial for its appropriate treatment.

In the next section of this article, we will discover how to recognize the symptoms of depression.

Symptoms of Depression

🧠 Recognizing the symptoms of this disorder is very important to receive help and appropriate treatments. In this part of the article, you will find some of the most common symptoms that may indicate the presence of this illness known as depression.

✍️ Many people experiencing symptoms of depression may start to wonder if something is really wrong with them. A typical fear is that they might feel like they are going crazy. Unfortunately, reactions and comments from others such as: “Just get over it!” are not very helpful. Instead, practicing emotional validation can be an excellent alternative when supporting someone with a low mood.

The symptoms of depression can cause drastic changes in life, daily routines, and the behavior of a depressed person. Often, it is these changes that worsen the depression and prevent the depressed person from improving.

For example, lack of motivation or energy can cause a depressed person to reduce their activities, neglect their daily tasks and responsibilities, and leave decision-making to others. There has also been documented a decrease in cognitive abilities (difficulty concentrating, completing tasks, finishing projects).

Persistent Feelings of Hopelessness or Sadness

☝🏻 We are all at some point not exempt from suffering from profound sadness that over time does not disappear but rather intensifies. Sadness can often feel overwhelming and thus affect a person's ability to think, act, and live.

Loss of Interest in Daily Activities

▶️ The lack of interest in common daily activities of an individual, such as spending time with friends, working, hobbies, and even activities as common as walking, is often lost due to the loss of interest. This lack of interest typically leads to a desire to isolate socially and creates feelings of loneliness.

Changes in Appetite and Sleep

😴 Depression can manifest differently in each individual; for example, some people may have trouble sleeping or, conversely, sleep excessively, while others have problems with appetite or, instead, overeat. These changes in both eating and sleeping are very common in people with this disorder.

Causes and Factors of Depression

📚 As we discussed above, where we also talked about the causes and factors of depression, the combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors plays a very important role when trying to diagnose or find symptoms of this mental health disorder.

⚡️ In conclusion, although depression manifests differently in each individual, it is important to keep in mind that depression is not a normal reaction to sadness or stress but rather a disorder that requires a mental health professional for its correct identification, treatment, and follow-up care.

Treatments and Support for Depression

✍️ Depression can be treated with medical treatments such as antidepressant medication, electroconvulsive therapy, and psychotherapy. In the field of psychology, we will mention some effective therapies for addressing depression.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

🎯 Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is a treatment focused on identifying and changing unhealthy negative behavior and thought patterns that cause and contribute to depression.

Division 12 of the American Psychological Association (APA) states that among the evidence-based therapies for depression, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is noted as having strong evidence for cases of depression in patients with diabetes.

Seeking Professional Help

☝🏻 If you identify with some of the symptoms or causes of depression or know someone who is internally struggling with this challenge, do not hesitate to seek help from a qualified mental health professional.

🔎 Remember that depression can occur at all stages from childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, so it has no age range or social status.

👉🏼 Clinical psychologists base the clinical diagnosis on interviews, observational techniques, and the application of psychological tests. Some useful psychological tests for addressing depression are:

  • ✅ Educational-Clinical Anxiety and Depression Questionnaire (CECAD): a test that allows the measurement of the following emotional indicators: worthlessness, irritability, psychophysiological symptoms, anxiety, and depression.
  • ✅ Beck Inventories for Children and Adolescents-2 (BYI-II): a test that through 5 questionnaires collects a wide variety of relevant emotional indicators: anxiety, depression, anger, disruptive behavior, and self-concept.
  • ✅ Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory-II (MACI-II): a personality test for adolescents that assesses personality patterns, clinical syndromes (depressive mood, anxiety states, mood dysregulation, reality distortions, suicidal ideations, among others).
  • ✅ Behavior Assessment System for Children and Adolescents (BASC-3): a comprehensive multimethod and multidimensional system that allows the collection of various behavioral and emotional indicators: anxiety, depression, internalizing symptom indices, externalizing symptom indices, somatization, withdrawal, and impairment in functional, adaptive, and daily life skills.
  • ✅ TAMADUL (Clinical Personality Questionnaire for Adolescents and Adults): The TAMADUL is a clinical test that can be applied from the age of 15, including adult populations. The test has the added value of providing information on psychological well-being-ill-being, adaptation-maladaptation in various contexts, and parenting styles.

✍️ Do not forget that your mental health and that of your loved ones is very important, and seeking help from a professional should always be a priority.

📲 If you need further guidance or require a psychological evaluation, at the Comprehensive Center for Educational Neuropsychology, we will be available to receive your inquiries. You can schedule an appointment by calling or writing to +507 6535-6362.

References

  • ✅ Sullivan, P. F., Neale, M. C., & Kendler, K. S. (2000). Genetic epidemiology of major depression: review and meta-analysis. American journal of psychiatry, 157(10), 1552-1562.