conclusion for depression essay

Primary Care Online Resources and Education

Conclusion depression.

Depression is one of the most common conditions in primary care, but is often unrecognized, undiagnosed, and untreated. Depression has a high rate of morbidity and mortality when left untreated. Most patients suffering from depression do not complain of feeling depressed, but rather anhedonia or vague unexplained symptoms. All physicians should remain alert to effectively screen for depression in their patients. There are several screening tools for depression that are effective and feasible in primary care settings. An appropriate history, physical, initial basic lab evaluation, and mental status examination can assist the physician in diagnosing the patient with the correct depressive spectrum disorder (including bipolar disorder). Primary care physicians should carefully assess depressed patients for suicide. Depression in the elderly is not part of the normal aging process. Patients who are elderly when they have their first episode of depression have a relatively higher likelihood of developing chronic and recurring depression. The prognosis for recovery is equal in young and old patients, although remission may take longer to achieve in older patients. Elderly patients usually start antidepressants at lower doses than their younger counterparts.

Most primary care physician can successfully treat uncomplicated mild or moderate forms of major depression in their settings with careful psychiatric management (e.g., close monitoring of symptoms, side effects, etc.); maintaining a therapeutic alliance with their patient; pharmacotherapy (acute, continuation, and maintenance phases); and / or referral for psychotherapy. The following situations require referral to psychiatrist: suicide risk, bipolar disorder or a manic episode, psychotic symptoms, severe decrease in level of functioning, recurrent depression and chronic depression, depression that is refractory to treatment, cardiac disease that requires tricyclic antidepressants treatment, need for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), lack of available support system, and any diagnostic or treatment questions.

Antidepressant medications’ effectiveness is generally comparable across classes and within classes of medications.  The medications differ in side effect profiles, drug-drug interactions, and cost.  The history of a positive response to a particular drug for an individual or a family member, as well as patient preferences, should also be taken into account.  Most psychiatrists agree that an SSRI should be the first line choice.  The dual action reuptake inhibitors venlafaxine and bupropion are generally regarded as second line agents.  Tricyclics and other mixed or dual action inhibitors are third line, and MAOI’s (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) are usually medications of last resort for patients who have not responded to other medications, due to their low tolerability, dietary restrictions, and drug-drug interactions.  Most primary care physicians would prefer that a psychiatrist manage patients requiring MAOI’s.

Psychotherapy may be a first line therapy choice for mild depression particularly when associated with psychosocial stress, interpersonal problems, or with concurrent developmental or personality disorders. Psychotherapy in mild to moderate depression is most effective in the acute phase, and in preventing relapse during continuation phase treatment. Psychotherapy is not appropriate alone for severe depression, psychosis, and bipolar disorders. For more severe depression, psychotherapy may be appropriate in combination with the use of medications. The most effective forms of psychotherapy are those with structured and brief approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and certain problem solving therapies. Regardless of the psychotherapy initiated, “psychiatric management” must be integrated at the same time.

Patients, who live with depression, and their family and friends, have enormous challenges to overcome. Primary care physicians can provide compassionate care, important education, psychiatric monitoring, social support, reassurance, and advocacy for these patients and their loved ones.

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Essays About Depression: Top 8 Examples Plus Prompts

Many people deal with mental health issues throughout their lives; if you are writing essays about depression, you can read essay examples to get started.

An occasional feeling of sadness is something that everyone experiences from time to time. Still, a persistent loss of interest, depressed mood, changes in energy levels, and sleeping problems can indicate mental illness. Thankfully, antidepressant medications, therapy, and other types of treatment can be largely helpful for people living with depression.

People suffering from depression or other mood disorders must work closely with a mental health professional to get the support they need to recover. While family members and other loved ones can help move forward after a depressive episode, it’s also important that people who have suffered from major depressive disorder work with a medical professional to get treatment for both the mental and physical problems that can accompany depression.

If you are writing an essay about depression, here are 8 essay examples to help you write an insightful essay. For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers .

• 1. My Best Friend Saved Me When I Attempted Suicide, But I Didn’t Save Her by Drusilla Moorhouse
• 2. How can I complain? by James Blake
• 3. What it’s like living with depression: A personal essay by Nadine Dirks
• 4. I Have Depression, and I’m Proof that You Never Know the Battle Someone is Waging Inside by Jac Gochoco
• 5. Essay: How I Survived Depression by Cameron Stout
• 6. I Can’t Get Out of My Sweat Pants: An Essay on Depression by Marisa McPeck-Stringham
• 7. This is what depression feels like by Courtenay Harris Bond

8. Opening Up About My Struggle with Recurring Depression by Nora Super

1. what is depression, 2. how is depression diagnosed, 3. causes of depression, 4. different types of depression, 5. who is at risk of depression, 6. can social media cause depression, 7. can anyone experience depression, the final word on essays about depression, is depression common, what are the most effective treatments for depression, top 8 examples, 1.  my best friend saved me when i attempted suicide, but i didn’t save her  by drusilla moorhouse.

“Just three months earlier, I had been a patient in another medical facility: a mental hospital. My best friend, Denise, had killed herself on Christmas, and days after the funeral, I told my mom that I wanted to die. I couldn’t forgive myself for the role I’d played in Denise’s death: Not only did I fail to save her, but I’m fairly certain I gave her the idea.”

Moorhouse makes painstaking personal confessions throughout this essay on depression, taking the reader along on the roller coaster of ups and downs that come with suicide attempts, dealing with the death of a loved one, and the difficulty of making it through major depressive disorder.

2.  How can I complain?  by James Blake

“I wanted people to know how I felt, but I didn’t have the vocabulary to tell them. I have gone into a bit of detail here not to make anyone feel sorry for me but to show how a privileged, relatively rich-and-famous-enough-for-zero-pity white man could become depressed against all societal expectations and allowances. If I can be writing this, clearly it isn’t only oppression that causes depression; for me it was largely repression.”

Musician James Blake shares his experience with depression and talks about his struggles with trying to grow up while dealing with existential crises just as he began to hit the peak of his fame. Blake talks about how he experienced guilt and shame around the idea that he had it all on the outside—and so many people deal with issues that he felt were larger than his.

3.  What it’s like living with depression: A personal essay   by Nadine Dirks

“In my early adulthood, I started to feel withdrawn, down, unmotivated, and constantly sad. What initially seemed like an off-day turned into weeks of painful feelings that seemed they would never let up. It was difficult to enjoy life with other people my age. Depression made typical, everyday tasks—like brushing my teeth—seem monumental. It felt like an invisible chain, keeping me in bed.”

Dirks shares her experience with depression and the struggle she faced to find treatment for mental health issues as a Black woman. Dirks discusses how even though she knew something about her mental health wasn’t quite right, she still struggled to get the diagnosis she needed to move forward and receive proper medical and psychological care.

4.  I Have Depression, and I’m Proof that You Never Know the Battle Someone is Waging Inside  by Jac Gochoco

“A few years later, at the age of 20, my smile had fallen, and I had given up. The thought of waking up the next morning was too much for me to handle. I was no longer anxious or sad; instead, I felt numb, and that’s when things took a turn for the worse. I called my dad, who lived across the country, and for the first time in my life, I told him everything. It was too late, though. I was not calling for help. I was calling to say goodbye.”

Gochoco describes the war that so many people with depression go through—trying to put on a brave face and a positive public persona while battling demons on the inside. The Olympic weightlifting coach and yoga instructor now work to share the importance of mental health with others.

5.  Essay: How I Survived Depression   by Cameron Stout

“In 1993, I saw a psychiatrist who prescribed an antidepressant. Within two months, the medication slowly gained traction. As the gray sludge of sadness and apathy washed away, I emerged from a spiral of impending tragedy. I helped raise two wonderful children, built a successful securities-litigation practice, and became an accomplished cyclist. I began to take my mental wellness for granted. “

Princeton alum Cameron Stout shared his experience with depression with his fellow Tigers in Princeton’s alumni magazine, proving that even the most brilliant and successful among us can be rendered powerless by a chemical imbalance. Stout shares his experience with treatment and how working with mental health professionals helped him to come out on the other side of depression.

6.  I Can’t Get Out of My Sweat Pants: An Essay on Depression  by Marisa McPeck-Stringham

“Sometimes, when the depression got really bad in junior high, I would come straight home from school and change into my pajamas. My dad caught on, and he said something to me at dinner time about being in my pajamas several days in a row way before bedtime. I learned it was better not to change into my pajamas until bedtime. People who are depressed like to hide their problematic behaviors because they are so ashamed of the way they feel. I was very ashamed and yet I didn’t have the words or life experience to voice what I was going through.”

McPeck-Stringham discusses her experience with depression and an eating disorder at a young age; both brought on by struggles to adjust to major life changes. The author experienced depression again in her adult life, and thankfully, she was able to fight through the illness using tried-and-true methods until she regained her mental health.

7.  This is what depression feels like  by Courtenay Harris Bond

“The smallest tasks seem insurmountable: paying a cell phone bill, lining up a household repair. Sometimes just taking a shower or arranging a play date feels like more than I can manage. My children’s squabbles make me want to scratch the walls. I want to claw out of my own skin. I feel like the light at the end of the tunnel is a solitary candle about to blow out at any moment. At the same time, I feel like the pain will never end.”

Bond does an excellent job of helping readers understand just how difficult depression can be, even for people who have never been through the difficulty of mental illness. Bond states that no matter what people believe the cause to be—chemical imbalance, childhood issues, a combination of the two—depression can make it nearly impossible to function.

“Once again, I spiraled downward. I couldn’t get out of bed. I couldn’t work. I had thoughts of harming myself. This time, my husband urged me to start ECT much sooner in the cycle, and once again, it worked. Within a matter of weeks I was back at work, pretending nothing had happened. I kept pushing myself harder to show everyone that I was “normal.” I thought I had a pattern: I would function at a high level for many years, and then my depression would be triggered by a significant event. I thought I’d be healthy for another ten years.”

Super shares her experience with electroconvulsive therapy and how her depression recurred with a major life event despite several years of solid mental health. Thankfully, Super was able to recognize her symptoms and get help sooner rather than later.

7 Writing Prompts on Essays About Depression

When writing essays on depression, it can be challenging to think of essay ideas and questions. Here are six essay topics about depression that you can use in your essay.

Depression can be difficult to define and understand. Discuss the definition of depression, and delve into the signs, symptoms, and possible causes of this mental illness. Depression can result from trauma or personal circumstances, but it can also be a health condition due to genetics. In your essay, look at how depression can be spotted and how it can affect your day-to-day life. 

Depression diagnosis can be complicated; this essay topic will be interesting as you can look at the different aspects considered in a diagnosis. While a certain lab test can be conducted, depression can also be diagnosed by a psychiatrist. Research the different ways depression can be diagnosed and discuss the benefits of receiving a diagnosis in this essay.

There are many possible causes of depression; this essay discusses how depression can occur. Possible causes of depression can include trauma, grief, anxiety disorders, and some physical health conditions. Look at each cause and discuss how they can manifest as depression.

There are many different types of depression. This essay topic will investigate each type of depression and its symptoms and causes. Depression symptoms can vary in severity, depending on what is causing it. For example, depression can be linked to medical conditions such as bipolar disorder. This is a different type of depression than depression caused by grief. Discuss the details of the different types of depression and draw comparisons and similarities between them.

Certain genetic traits, socio-economic circumstances, or age can make people more prone to experiencing symptoms of depression. Depression is becoming more and more common amongst young adults and teenagers. Discuss the different groups at risk of experiencing depression and how their circumstances contribute to this risk.

Social media poses many challenges to today’s youth, such as unrealistic beauty standards, cyber-bullying, and only seeing the “highlights” of someone’s life. Can social media cause depression in teens? Delve into the negative impacts of social media when writing this essay. You could compare the positive and negative sides of social media and discuss whether social media causes mental health issues amongst young adults and teenagers.

This essay question poses the question, “can anyone experience depression?” Although those in lower-income households may be prone to experiencing depression, can the rich and famous also experience depression? This essay discusses whether the privileged and wealthy can experience their possible causes. This is a great argumentative essay topic, discuss both sides of this question and draw a conclusion with your final thoughts.

When writing about depression, it is important to study examples of essays to make a compelling essay. You can also use your own research by conducting interviews or pulling information from other sources. As this is a sensitive topic, it is important to approach it with care; you can also write about your own experiences with mental health issues.

Tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

FAQs On Essays About Depression

According to the World Health Organization, about 5% of people under 60 live with depression. The rate is slightly higher—around 6%—for people over 60. Depression can strike at any age, and it’s important that people who are experiencing symptoms of depression receive treatment, no matter their age. 

Suppose you’re living with depression or are experiencing some of the symptoms of depression. In that case, it’s important to work closely with your doctor or another healthcare professional to develop a treatment plan that works for you. A combination of antidepressant medication and cognitive behavioral therapy is a good fit for many people, but this isn’t necessarily the case for everyone who suffers from depression. Be sure to check in with your doctor regularly to ensure that you’re making progress toward improving your mental health.

If you’re still stuck, check out our general resource of essay writing topics .

Amanda has an M.S.Ed degree from the University of Pennsylvania in School and Mental Health Counseling and is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer. She has experience writing magazine articles, newspaper articles, SEO-friendly web copy, and blog posts.

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A major aim of this course was to shed some light on the aetiology of depression and anxiety. At the end of it you should have some idea of the complexity of this enterprise. We have focused on one of the best-studied and hence best-understood contributors to psychopathology – stress. This has biological, social and psychological significance, and its operation can be studied and understood at all these levels.

The clear message you should take away is that interaction between these levels is enormously important in aetiology. Biological factors, such as dysregulation of the HPA axis and its consequences, possible abnormalities in brain neurotransmitter systems, the effects of stress on the developing brain at different ages, and the kinds of genes that an individual carries, appear to play an important part in the development and maintenance of emotional disorders such as depression and anxiety. However, these biological factors cannot be divorced from factors that are thought of as psychosocial, such as abuse in childhood, or stressful events and how we perceive them. This is very evident from the most recent developments in genetics, which show how, via epigenetic processes, experiences are translated into the activity (or expression) of genes, which then modify the workings of the brain in ways that affect mood.

Research into epigenetic influences on mental health and ill-health is burgeoning and is likely to make a very significant contribution to our understanding of aetiology in the years to come. If so, it should also help clarify how existing treatments, both pharmacological and psychotherapeutic, for emotional disorders work, or suggest new approaches that would work more effectively.

The HPA axis is overactive in those with depression and anxiety, suggesting a role for chronic stress. Elevated levels of glucocorticoids such as cortisol and corticosterone, resulting from chronic stress, have toxic effects in some areas of the brain and promote neurogenesis in others.

The monoamine hypothesis of mood disorders has been influential in trying to explain the causes of depression. However the picture is now more complex and the view of a simple chemical imbalance as a cause of depression is outdated.

Hypotheses such as the neurotrophic hypothesis and the network hypothesis have been developed to try to account for the complex effects of antidepressant treatments on the brain.

The life-cycle model of stress links brain development with stress effects over the lifetime.

The cognitive approach concentrates on particular ways of thinking and how these cause and sustain depression.

Genetic and other vulnerabilities (also called predispositions or diatheses) can interact with environmental factors, which include psychosocial stressors such as stressful life events and early life stress (including child abuse) to cause emotional disorders such as depression.

Epigenetic processes add another layer of complexity to the interaction between genes and environment. There is increasingly evidence of the importance of epigenetic processes in the aetiology of mood disorders.

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How To Write A Strong Essay On Depression?

Table of Contents

Looking for useful information that will help you write a powerful essay on depression? You’ve come to the right place, then!

Depression is a worldwide spread disease that negatively affects how people feel, the way they think, and how they act. It is also the leading cause of disability. There are estimates that more than 300 million people are affected by depression globally, and this condition is also one of the most common mental disorders in the USA.

No wonder depression essay is a typical assignment for high school and college students. The goal of writing about this mental condition is to increase awareness among young people about mental health and help them find solutions to this problem.

In this guide, you will find all the necessary information for writing the best essays on this topic.

Depression essay: what’s the deal?

At some point in our lives, we all may experience symptoms like sadness, loss of interest, lack of pleasure from performing daily activities, etc.

For most people, these symptoms are a completely normal response to unpleasant or stressful events that they experience, for example, romantic relationships failures or financial issues.

Negative feelings are usually painful and overwhelming, but as time goes by, they become less intense and disappear.

But if these feelings persist, they may affect people’s life substantially and result in depression.

In recent decades, clinical depression has reached epidemic proportions and is widespread in the suburbs inner cities, farms, refugee camps, boardrooms, and classrooms, and women are more likely to be depressed than man.

Recent research reveals that the United States is the most depressed country in the world.

When writing an essay about this mental illness, you need to examine different aspects. For example, you may write a postpartum depression essay or explore how this mental condition affects the brain, personality, and physical health.

The choice of topics is endless, but you should follow standard writing requirements when working on your projects. Let’s discuss some important steps of writing an essay about mental disorders in detail.

Depression research paper outline: a brief how-to

Many students skip this stage in the writing process and as a result, may waste a lot of time when doing research and actually writing.

Creating a working outline for your project is an essential step that will help you stay focused and increase your overall productivity. Never skip this crucial step if you want to succeed.

Here are some tips on how you can do it right.

• Choose a topic for your research and do some preliminary reading. Search for some interesting facts and try to think about new ways to address your topic. Scan some articles and look for knowledge gaps.
• Take notes when you see an interesting quote and create a list of your sources. You can use them as references in your essay. Keep all the information you have gathered in one place.
• Write down the objective of your essay in one sentence. Think about the outcome you want to achieve when other people read your essay.
• Look through your notes and make a list of all the important points you want to make. Use brainstorming techniques and write down all ideas that pop into your head.
• Review the points and create a thesis statement for depression research paper or essay.
• Organize the list of points to create a structure of your essay . Put the points in a logical order. Check all aspects to make sure that each of them is relevant to your objective.
• Revise all your points and try to put your outline in a standard format: numbered or bulleted list.

Depression essay introduction: how to start?

The introduction of your essay should provide some context and prepare your readers for the arguments you would present next.

Start your introduction with an attention grabber to engage your audience. It can be a provocative question, statistics, an anecdote, an interesting fact, etc.

Introduce your specific topic and provide some context to help your readers understand your paper. For example, you can define some key terms.

Finish your introduction with a strong thesis statement that clearly and concisely states the central argument or the purpose of your paper.

e.g., Students who drop out of a high school before graduation are more susceptible to depression and anxiety and have a higher risk of facing mental and physical health problems later in life.

You may also briefly outline the major points of your paper to help your audience follow your argument.

Depression essay conclusion: what should be included?

The conclusion is the last chance to impress your readers so it can be the most challenging part of an essay to write.

It should give your paper a sense of completeness and answer the question, “so what?”

You need to restate your main claim and tie that claim to a larger discussion. Don’t introduce any new ideas or subtopics here.

You can conclude your paper using one of the following strategies:

• Call for a specific action.
• Outline next steps for other researchers.
• Speak about future implications.
• Compare different situations or issues.
• Use a quotation.
• Ask a provocative question.

The use of depression essay example

A good essay example may help you understand how your project must be written. You can find a lot of essay examples online or order a well-written example from a professional writer.

You should read it and analyze what strategies and techniques are used to convey the main ideas and make an impression on readers.

Besides, you can get a better understanding of how you can structure your paper and what transitions you can use to ensure a logical flow of ideas.

Essay on depression: what to cover?

Writing about depression in college essay can involve a lot of different topics, especially those connected with the epidemic of mental disorders in teens.

For example, you may write causes of teenage depression essay and discuss multiple factors that create chemical imbalances in the human brain which may result in mental disorders and lead to such symptoms like anger, irritability, and agitation:

• Biological factors – family history of mental disorders.
• Social factors – loneliness and isolation, lack of meaningful relationships with family or peers.
• Behavioral factors – alcohol or drug abuse.
• Psychological factors – early childhood trauma, recent stressful experiences like a death in the family.

TOP-10 depression essay topics

• Effects of mood disorders on physical health.
• Causes of depression among teens.
• Compare depression and bipolar disorder.
• Neurodegenerative effects of long-term depression.
• Mental disorders and personality changes in adults.
• Impact of psychological stress on mental disorders.
• Teen depression and suicide.
• Depression symptoms in children and adults.
• Are we witnessing an epidemic of serious mood disorders?
• Digital media and mental disorders in children.

Argumentative essay on depression: how to prove you’re right?

Argumentative essay on depression is a more complex task because you need to take a stance and create a convincing argument to persuade your readers and make them accept your point of view or take a specific action.

You need compelling evidence to support your claims and main points.

Consult credible online sources, for example, a website of the American Psychiatric Association, to find some facts or statistics about mental disorders or news about current research on the topic.

Review some statistics which you can use to support your argument.

• According to estimates, about 15% of adults experience depressive episodes in their lifetime.
• About 5% of the US population experience seasonal depression every year.
• The most “depressed” countries in the world are the USA, France, the Netherlands, Ukraine, and Colombia.
• Japan has one of the lowest depression rates in the world, but it has one of the highest suicide rates, which is one of the leading causes of death among Japanese teens.
• 4.8% of men and 8.5% of women suffer from depression in the USA.
• The median age of people experiencing a major depressive episode is 32.
• More than 44,000 American commit suicide each year and it’s the 2nd leading cause of death for young people aged from 15 to 24.

Argumentative essay topics about depression

• Is there any correlation between burnout, depression, and anxiety?
• How to deal with a crisis when living with mental disorders?
• Is it common to have both anxiety and depression at the same time?
• Can sleep deprivation cause mental disorders?
• Is there any relationship between the consumption of certain food and mental disorders?
• Can food help with overcoming anxiety?
• Social media obsession and mental health issues.
• Why do a lot of teens struggle with mental disorders?
• Can exercise treat mental health issues?
• How can we tell the difference between grief and depression?

Feel free to choose any of these interesting topics and write your own depression essay.

Although mental disorders are a complicated thing to write about, you are much likely to successfully cope with this challenging task if you follow our easy guidelines.

Depressed with the task to write depression? Forget the anxiety! Order your paper within three clicks and enjoy the bright side of life!

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Depression as a Psychological Disorder Essay

Introduction.

Depression is a popular mental condition that can affect anyone. It has various forms, symptoms, and ways of development, which may all be different for each person (Stringaris, 2017). The World Health Organization (2017) calculated in 2015 that 4.4% of the total world population suffers from depression, with 322 million unique cases registered worldwide (p. 8). Moreover, they concluded that since 2005 the number of people with depressive disorders increased by 18.4%, which “reflects the overall growth of the global population, as well as a proportionate increase in the age groups” (World Health Organization, 2017, p. 8). Thus, the topic of depression remains a scientific point of interest per the continuing growth of population numbers worldwide. Summarizing and evaluating the information that trusted journals have published on the topic of depression might help create a well-rounded review of the condition and the scientific community’s understanding of it.

The Present Definition of a Depressive Disorder

Depression can be defined as a disorder that affects a person’s mental health, resulting in a dampened emotional state for an extended time. It is an exhausting mental condition that affects people’s daily lives by influencing them towards adopting negative patterns of behavior (Lu, Li, Li, Wang, & Zhang, 2016). People with depression may respond to external stimuli dully and, thus, become unable to experience the same breadth of emotion that had previously been available to them. In turn, these circumstances lead to increased rates of suicide among those suffering from major depressive disorders, particularly among adolescents, making it a “potentially lethal” mental health condition (Stringaris, 2017, p. 1287). The World Health Organization (2017) distinguishes between depressive and anxiety disorders, outlining the fact that different circumstances cause the two problems. However, depression may be identified as retaining a leading position in mental health studies. This popularity may be due to its ability to be used as an umbrella term for different combinations of depressive symptoms.

The Background Mechanisms and Symptoms of Depression in Literature

The likely causes of depression can be gathered into a long list. Its lineup may include a person’s genetic predisposition, various environmental influences, hormonal fluctuations, and even traumatic life experiences. Initially, researchers even linked depressive disorders with a lack of serotonin, the absence which continues to be thought of as the leading cause of clinical depression (Cowen & Browning, 2015). However, no proven evidence regarding why people become depressed exists (World Health Organization, 2017). Nonetheless, hypotheses regarding chemical imbalances and disruptions of neural networks within the brain remain the process’s leading explanations (Cowen & Browning, 2015; Lu et al., 2016). Due to these continuing doubts within the scientific community, the most common identification for depression remains how a person behaves (Fried & Nesse, 2015). Therefore, while the origins of depression remain hidden, clinical practitioners continue paying close attention to how people reveal their illness to provide them with treatment.

Symptomatology is the mass of collected evidence regarding a person’s health. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a person should demonstrate at least five out of nine symptoms below to de considered depressed:

1. depressed mood; 2. markedly diminished interest or pleasure; 3. increase or decrease in either weight or appetite; 4. insomnia or hypersomnia; 5. psychomotor agitation or retardation; 6. fatigue or loss of energy; 7. feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt; 8. diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness; and 9. recurrent thoughts of death. (Fried & Nesse, 2015, p. 1-2).

While this list may not be considered final, it remains the basis for identifying depression. Nonetheless, it is essential to note that all people experience depression differently (Salk, Hyde, & Abramson, 2017). Furthermore, some symptoms may carry more weight during diagnosis than others (Fried, Epskamp, Nesse, Tuerlinckx, & Borsboom, 2016). Thus, the widely accepted DSM-5 standard relies on a person’s self-identification per their personal understanding of their behavior.

Treatment: Who and How

It may be appropriate to preface treatment options for depressive disorders with a highlight of groups that may be at risk. Research findings suggest that women report higher incidences of depression than men due to both their different socioeconomic positions and inherent “biological sex differences,” which link with hormonal changes, for example, different estrogen levels (Albert, 2015, p. 219; Mojtabai, Olfson, & Han, 2016). A paper by Salk et al. (2017) reports that this difference between the numbers of depressed men and women reaches its highest point during adolescence, evening out only after teenagers reach adulthood. Considering additional factors, such as “abuse, education and income,” may also help identify other population levels that could be susceptible to depression (Albert, 2015, p. 219). Thus, while women retain a higher possibility of becoming depressed, other factors that are independent of gender also play a role in deciding at-risk groups.

Depression’s treatment can merely attempt to correct people’s behavior, considering the hidden nature of its causes. Thus, antidepressants may be highlighted as remaining the most popular treatment option. The “pharmacological actions of drugs” continue to be the best currently available link to both treating the condition and examining what may cause it (Cowen & Browning, 2015, p. 158). However, the majority of antidepressants cause side effects that are equal to the symptoms of depression, for example, lessened emotional responsivity, fatigue, and suicidal tendencies (Fried & Nesse, 2015). This fact is particularly painful to consider in combination with the findings of a paper by Mojtabai et al. (2016) that states that treatment trends from “2005 to 2014” have remained unchanged (p. 6). Therefore, it may be assumed that the continuing lack of knowledge regarding the causes of depression may be preventing its treatment methods from progressing to new levels.

The Problem with Defining Depression

The scientific community may be moving towards rejecting using depression as an umbrella term. Instead, it could be showing a tendency to focus on people’s individual experiences. The ongoing research processes struggle to identify depression as either a sum of its symptoms or a separate condition (Fried & Nesse, 2015). Furthermore, most researchers cannot agree on whether the depressive disorder is a spectrum or a sequence of events (Stringaris, 2017). However, they admit that rejecting depression, as a term, would be harmful to mental health practice (Stringaris, 2017). Thus, when Stringaris (2017) asks, “What is depression?” it is not a rhetorical question, but rather a recognition of the current state of affairs (p. 1288). Therefore, the findings of researchers who attempt to categorize people by their population type, for example, Albert (2015), Mojtabai et al. (2016), and Salk et al. (2017), become problematic per their disregard for depression’s subgroups. The fact that people with different symptoms and magnitudes of depression can be considered ill could be a continuing research restriction.

Recognizing the existence of varying stages of depression should lead to questioning the proposed DSM-5 symptom-checker since it is the one on which most of the diagnoses are based. Both studies by Fried and Nesse (2015) and Fried et al. (2016) support the idea that personal experiences remain more critical during diagnosis than checklists. Haroz et al. (2017) further outline the DSM-5 as a western-oriented mental healthcare tool that does not carry the same effect for non-western populations. These facts may be in line with current research trends, as they seem to discourage using depression as an umbrella term. However, as identified by Stringaris (2017), this development could lead to either a perfection of existing clinical approaches or “vast confusion among clinicians and patients” (p. 1288). Thus, while these research papers could help define the future of depression awareness, the benefits of the foundation provided by the DSM-5 should not be rejected.

Existing Hindrances to Perfecting Treatment Methods

The used literature may indicate a continuing period of inactivity in developing new treatment methods for depression. This area of study remains mainly medicine-focused, full of side effects, and directed towards removing the illness’s symptoms rather than the sickness itself. The two existing brain-related and chemical explanations for depression may be the most traditional, but they too remain underdeveloped and under-tested. Lu et al. (2016) recognize that their cited and conducted experiments, which focus on rodents and mice, can have only a limited number of suggestions for treating human depression. However, the paper by Cowen and Browning (2015) that highlights the chemical serotonin as the catalyst for people’s “emotional processing” during treatment may hold serious meaning for future research (p. 160). Nonetheless, the continuing lack of answers regarding the causes of depression, its nature, and progress may pose the biggest problem in finding a cure.

The Future of Current Research Trends

The existing differences within the mental health scientific community may be driving the topic of depression in different directions. The statistics regarding the worldwide numbers of depressed people may become troublesome to consider since Haroz et al. (2017) claim that different cultures report depression differently. Thus, focusing on at-risk groups with an approach that raises awareness for mental health may be the future of depression studies (Mojtabai et al., 2016). Moreover, Stringaris (2017) urges researchers to “being open to the fact that both [depression’s] content may prove heterogeneous, and that its boundaries may need to shift” (p. 128). Thus, research still has to prove most facts about depression. However, a lack of definitive answers may mean a greater extent of flexibility when deciding the appropriate research and treatment methods.

The carried out literature review allowed outlining the major scientific trends in modern-day depression studies. Depression remains one of the most popularly studied mental health conditions, with researchers applying the term to people who show any combination of its many symptoms. However, the cause of the sickness remains unknown, which prevents researchers from predicting how it can progress. As such, depression studies retain a high amount of flexibility, which may be considered both a positive and negative thing. Thus, current trends focus on instead promoting different sides of depressive disorder studies, from determining at-risk groups to documenting brain processes during illness through conducting experiments. By doing so, researchers hope to understand the disease’s origins through testing various treatment methods. This development may expand the current understanding of depressive disorders’ different features. Therefore, modern depression research remains an ongoing process that hopes to better the quality of care provided to those suffering from the condition.

Albert, P. R. (2015). Why is depression more prevalent in women? Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience: JPN , 40 (4), 219-221. Web.

Cowen, P. J., & Browning, M. (2015). What has serotonin to do with depression? World Psychiatry , 14 (2), 158-160. Web.

Fried, E. I., & Nesse, R. M. (2015). Depression sum-scores don’t add up: Why analyzing specific depression symptoms is essential. BMC Medicine , 13 (1), 1-11. Web.

Fried, E. I., Epskamp, S., Nesse, R. M., Tuerlinckx, F., & Borsboom, D. (2016). What are ‘good’ depression symptoms? Comparing the centrality of DSM and non-DSM symptoms of depression in a network analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders , 189 , 314-320. Web.

Haroz, E. E., Ritchey, M., Bass, J. K., Kohrt, B. A., Augustinavicius, J., Michalopoulos, L.,… Bolton, P. (2017). How is depression experienced around the world? A systematic review of qualitative literature. Social Science & Medicine , 183 , 1-29. Web.

Lu, C., Li, Q., Li, Y., Wang, Y., & Zhang, Y. F. (2016). A short glance at the neural circuitry mechanism underlying depression. World Journal of Neuroscience , 6 (03), 184-192. Web.

Mojtabai, R., Olfson, M., & Han, B. (2016). National trends in the prevalence and treatment of depression in adolescents and young adults. Pediatrics , 138 (6), 1-10. Web.

Salk, R. H., Hyde, J. S., & Abramson, L. Y. (2017). Gender differences in depression in representative national samples: Meta-analyses of diagnoses and symptoms. Psychological Bulletin , 143 (8), 783. Web.

Stringaris, A. (2017). What is depression? Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry , 58 (12), 1287-1289. Web.

World Health Organization. (2017). Depression and other common mental disorders: Global health estimates . Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.

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IvyPanda. (2024, February 20). Depression as a Psychological Disorder. https://ivypanda.com/essays/depression-as-a-psychological-disorder/

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IvyPanda . "Depression as a Psychological Disorder." February 20, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/depression-as-a-psychological-disorder/.

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• v.14(9); 1999 Sep

Awareness, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Depression

Larry s goldman.

1 Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association, Chicago, Ill

Nancy H Nielsen

Hunter c champion.

To review recent findings on the epidemiology, burden, diagnosis, comorbidity, and treatment of depression, particularly in general medical settings; to delineate barriers to the recognition, diagnosis, and optimal management of depression in general medical settings; and to summarize efforts under way to reduce some of these barriers.

M edline searches were conducted to identify scientific articles published during the previous 10 years addressing depression in general medical settings and epidemiology, co-occurring conditions, diagnosis, costs, outcomes, and treatment. Articles relevant to the objective were selected and summarized.

CONCLUSIONS

Depression occurs commonly, causing suffering, functional impairment, increased risk of suicide, added health care costs, and productivity losses. Effective treatments are available both when depression occurs alone and when it co-occurs with general medical illnesses. Many cases of depression seen in general medical settings are suitable for treatment within those settings. About half of all cases of depression in primary care settings are recognized, although subsequent treatments often fall short of existing practice guidelines. When treatments of documented efficacy are used, short-term patient outcomes are generally good. Barriers to diagnosing and treating depression include stigma; patient somatization and denial; physician knowledge and skill deficits; limited time; lack of availability of providers and treatments; limitations of third-party coverage; and restrictions on specialist, drug, and psychotherapeutic care. Public and professional education efforts, destigmatization, and improvement in access to mental health care are all needed to reduce these barriers.

This report reviews recent findings on the epidemiology, burden, diagnosis, comorbidity, and treatment of depression, particularly in general medical settings; describes barriers to the recognition, diagnosis, and optimal management of depression in general medical settings; and summarizes efforts under way to reduce these barriers. The American Medical Association's Council on Scientific Affairs produced a series of reports on depression in 1991. 1

Major depression is the depressive disorder on which most research has been conducted. Other depressive disorders, such as dysthmyic disorder (“chronic” depression) and mixed depressive-anxiety states, are also common in general medical settings but have been studied far less. Similarly, most research has been done in adult populations; this report notes a few instances of information about children. Except for comoribidity, most of the research in this area has been in primary care settings rather than in more specialized medical environments; most research on treatment has been conducted in specialty mental health settings.

EPIDEMIOLOGY IN GENERAL MEDICAL SETTINGS

Depressive disorders are common in the general population, with a point prevalence of about 2% to 4% for major depressions 2 and about a 20% lifetime risk for the development of major depression or dysthymic disorder. 3 , 4 The rate of depression among women is 2 to 3 times that of men. 5 These findings are based on large community surveys using structured interviews. Of those seeking help for depression in the United States, nearly three fourths go to a primary care physician rather than to a mental health professional. The most common presentation in primary care is not dysphoria but rather complaints of sleep disturbance, fatigue, or pain. 6 Overall, 5% to 10% of ambulatory primary care patients and 10% to 14% of medical inpatients suffer from major depression. 7 One study in a general internal medicine practice treating a diverse population found that 10% of the patients had diagnosable depressive disorders, while 11% had a disorder with depressive symptoms that did not fit into any standard diagnostic categories 8 ; this underscores the high prevalence of depressive complaints that do not fit into current diagnostic schemes.

Another study examined more than 1,000 primary care patients whose diagnostic screen was positive for major depression and who then underwent a psychiatric evaluation. 9 Seventy percent of these patients were suffering from major depression that could be treated in a primary care setting, 13% had major depression but required specialty sector care, and 17% had conditions other than major depression. Of those with major depression suitable for primary care treatment, nearly 75% had suffered at some time during their life from an additional Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. (DSM-IV) axis I disorder (most commonly generalized anxiety or panic disorder), 10 and 68% were felt to have an axis II (personality) disorder. A high percentage had experienced episodes of major depression prior to the study episode. This study illustrates both benefits and limitations of screening, the predominance of cases suitable for primary care setting treatment, the need to inquire about past history of depression, and the high rates at which other psychiatric disorders co-occur with depression.

Among the well-known burdens caused by depression are patient suffering, family distress and conflict, impaired cognitive development of young children in cases of postpartum depression, 11 and the strikingly increased risk of suicide. More recent studies have examined the impact on functioning and the economic burdens. The Medical Outcomes Study looked at patient physical functioning in several chronic diseases. Patients with depression had functioning scores about the same as those with advanced coronary artery disease, scores that were in turn lower than all other conditions studied, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and arthritis. 12 This impairment in functioning, when coupled with the high prevalence, chronic or relapsing course, and frequent early onset, led a group of World Health Organization researchers to conclude that unipolar major depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. 13 Functional improvement occurs with effective treatment.

Costs of depression in the United States have been estimated at $43 billion per year. 14 Only 30% of the cost is from direct medical care; the remainder is from premature death and impaired workplace productivity. The economic cost to employers is estimated at $6,000 per depressed worker per year. 15

The effects of depression on consumption of medical care are striking. When the diagnosis of depression is missed, the search for physical explanations of symptoms causes unnecessary increases in medical utilization rates. When depression co-occurs with other general medical conditions, patient adherence to treatment is worsened, chances for improvement or recovery from the other condition are lessened, and health care costs are further increased. 16 One study in a large group HMO compared two groups of “high utilizers” (i.e., patients whose annual medical expenses were above the HMO median). Costs for high utilizers who were depressed were $1,500 higher per year than for those who were not depressed. 17 Health care costs in patients with depression and co-occurring medical illness are increased even when the nature and severity of the medical condition are controlled. 18 , 19

The diagnosis of major depression is fundamentally clinical. As with most psychiatric disorders, it is made on the basis of a careful clinical interview and mental status examination. Considerable evidence suggests that such an interview is comparable in sensitivity and specificity to many radiologic and laboratory tests commonly used in medicine. The criteria in the DSM-IV ( Table 1 ) are generally considered the standard diagnostic approach. Major depression is a syndromal diagnosis: on the basis of the patient's medical history and physical examination, it may be appropriate to consider other psychiatric disorders (obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, bulimia nervosa, dementia), general medical conditions, medications, or a substance use disorder as etiologic and to pursue relevant diagnostic investigations.

Criteria for Major Depressive Episode *

A number of screening tools are available to help physicians identify patients most likely to be depressed. As with most screening instruments, they tend to be fairly sensitive but not too specific for identifying depression. Most authors suggest screening when the physician has some a priori suspicion of depression, typically a specific depressive symptom, unexplained physical symptoms, impaired functioning, or subjective distress out of proportion to a known general medical condition, or another psychiatric disorder. Physicians must interpret specific screening results correctly and appreciate the need to carry out further clinical assessment. No preventive service guide calls for depression screening in asymptomatic individuals. 20 , 21

Long-established, symptom-oriented patient self-report screens include the General Health Questionnaire, 22 the Beck Depression Inventory, 23 the Symptom Checklist, 24 the Inventory of Depressive Symptoms, 25 and the Zung Depression Scale. 26 Scores above a predetermined cutoff suggest the need to perform a more comprehensive evaluation for depression. These screens have sensitivities of 70% to 85% and specificities of about 80%. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale 27 and the shortened Geriatric Depression Scale 28 have been proposed as particularly valuable in the elderly. 29 These tools are designed simply to produce a depression rating (severity) score; however, two more recent instruments, the Symptom-Driven Diagnostic System for Primary Care 30 and the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders, 31 are diagnosis-oriented, patient-administered screens that are supplemented by a clinician-driven diagnostic module if any of the patient screens are positive. These instruments probe for several different psychiatric disorders, including major depression. There also are other symptom checklists or inventories. All screens require diagnostic confirmation by a careful clinical interview.

The primary care version of DSM-IV provides in abbreviated form the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria of the mental disorders most commonly seen in primary care settings, including depression. 32 It also contains symptom-driven algorithms to move from a patient's complaint to a specific diagnosis. A pediatric version has been developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. 33 The World Health Organization has developed a primary health care version of the International Classification of Diseases dealing with mental disorders (ICD-10 PHC, chapter 5) that contains cards with information about the common complaints, diagnosis, and management of 24 common psychiatric disorders. 34

Several aspects of the DSM approach may be problematic in a medical setting. A number of the symptoms are somatic. Although the diagnostic criteria give equal weighting to all nine symptoms, clinicians often fail to consider depression as part of a differential diagnosis of the patient's chief complaint unless the complaint itself is of dysphoria or the patient is observably and notably sad. Patients may tend to emphasize physical symptoms because these are most troubling, because they are reluctant to disclose emotional distress, or because they believe the physician will be most interested in or helpful for those symptoms. At times, it may be difficult to determine whether any particular symptom is caused by a depression or by another medical disorder.

COMORBIDITY

Depression occurs frequently with anxiety disorders and with substance use disorders, including alcoholism. More recent research highlights the relation between nicotine addiction and depression. 35 Diagnosis of co-occurring depression and substance abuse is complicated, as either condition may overshadow the other. A number of recent textbooks and review articles are devoted to issues of diagnosing and treating depression and other psychiatric disorders in general medical populations. 36 – 38

Recent studies and reviews confirm the high rates of depression and its morbidity seen in many general medical conditions, especially those that affect the central nervous system. Table 2 summarizes some of the studies examining the rates of depression in various medical conditions.

Rates of Depression Co-Occurring with Other Medical Conditions.

Advanced age also may be an important factor that exists concurrently with depression. Depression in the elderly may be particularly hazardous and costly if untreated, and it also may be more complicated to treat. 39 – 41 Finally, untreated depression in the presence of terminal medical illness is one of several psychosocial factors associated with patient requests for physician assistance in dying. 42

TRENDS IN TREATMENT

Recent trends in the treatment of depression have been driven by scientific advances as well as changes in the practice environment. Over the past 10 years, nine newly marketed antidepressants (fluoxetine [Prozac], sertraline [Zoloft], paroxitene [Paxil], bupropion [Wellbutrin], venlafaxine [Effexor], fluvoxamine [Lu-vox], nefazodone [Serzone], mirtazapine [Remeron], and citalopram [Celexa]) were released in the United States. These drugs are structurally and pharmacologically quite different from the older tricyclic and monoamine oxidase inhibitor agents. For the most part, these drugs exhibit a more benign side effect profile, a simplified dosing strategy, better patient adherence, and a lower risk of death in overdose situations compared with the older drugs. As a result, they have quickly been adopted in medical settings, and several are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in all of medicine. These newer drugs do, however, continue to demonstrate the delay in full therapeutic action (several or more weeks) seen with older drugs, they generally lack a clear relation between serum drug level and therapeutic response, and some pose risks of significant drug-drug interactions with other medications. 43

Parallel advances in the development and testing of psychotherapies have occurred as well. Cognitive behavioral and interpersonal psychotherapy, which are both structured and time-limited in nature, have been shown to be equal in efficacy to antidepressant medication for mild-to-moderate, nonbipolar, nonpsychotic major depression, the type seen most commonly in general medical settings. 44 Such therapies offer a genuine alternative to patients intolerant of or averse to using antidepressant medications, to those who prefer psychotherapy, and to pregnant or nursing women. It is still uncertain whether combining pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy yields better outcomes than either form of treatment alone. 45 , 46 The exact role of other forms of psychotherapy (e.g., behavioral, marital/family, group, psychodynamic) in depression also remains unclear.

These specific therapies for major depression are different from the general supportive care offered by many physicians. Although such support may be vital to the doctor-patient relationship, may encourage medication adherence, and can be helpful to the patient, there is no empirical evidence of its efficacy as a specific treatment modality. Few nonpsychiatrist physicians are trained in cognitive-behavioral or interpersonal psychotherapy, although other specific forms of counseling by the primary care physician may also improve outcomes. 47 , 48 Primary care physicians most commonly prescribe medications themselves as a sole treatment modality, offer a few sessions of supportive psychotherapy, or refer patients to mental health practitioners for psychotherapy (either as sole therapy or in conjunction with primary care antidepressant prescribing, so-called split treatments). The impact on outcomes of these different provider approaches is not well understood. 49

A further development in depression treatment is the growing appreciation of depression as a chronic, often recurrent illness. At least 50% of those who experience an episode of major depression without a co-occurrent general medical condition will go on to have another, and after several such episodes the risk of future recurrences probably exceeds 90%. In addition, while most patients make a full recovery from any particular episode (with or without treatment), about one fifth to one third have a residual persistence of symptoms or impairment in functioning or both. 50 Thus, interest has increased in using medications prophylactically (after a likely episode recovery but in anticipation of a subsequent one), particularly after the patient has experienced several episodes. In addition, studies have sought to clarify whether any specific psychotherapeutic interventions afford a protective effect against future episodes (i.e., after cessation of psychotherapy or when it is provided at infrequent intervals). 51 Much of the information on illness prevalence, course, and treatment efficacy was reviewed, synthesized, and published as a set of treatment guidelines on depression for primary care settings by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR). 52

Several trends also have emerged as a result of changes in health care delivery systems. There is growing appreciation of the important role of the primary care sector in caring for those with a variety of psychiatric illnesses. 53 The “gatekeeper” role has come to include an increased pressure on primary care physicians to diagnose and treat depression themselves. This pressure is both clinical (they can provide more integrated care) and economic (to limit more costly specialty sector referrals). As with other illnesses, patients with uncomplicated depression are likely to receive care from their primary care physician, while those with complex (e.g., bipolar, psychotic, suicidal, other co-occurrent psychiatric disorders such as substance use disorders) or treatment-refractory illnesses, or those requiring specialized treatments (e.g., electroconvulsive therapy, light therapy, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy) may be followed in the specialty mental health sector.

There has been a dramatic rise in recent years of mental or behavioral health “carve outs,” where an organizational entity contracts with a managed care organization or other general health provider to provide all services for patients identified as in need of mental health services. This entity may be clinically or geographically distinct from the primary medical care setting. The proposed advantage of this approach is to guarantee an expert set of specialized clinicians and services that can care for all of a patient's mental health problems (e.g., depression, substance abuse, personality disorders) and provide an optimal level of access and treatment setting (e.g., outpatient office, partial hospital, detoxification setting, inpatient hospital). Potential disadvantages center on the fact that such care is not integrated into the patient's general medical care. Thus, the patient may need to utilize different facilities, the record-keeping system is separate, and the feedback loop between referring and treating clinician is stretched or nonexistent. Unlike traditional practice in which the referring physician selects the consultant (often based on previous shared experiences), carved-out care seldom allows the primary care physician to decide to whom he or she is sending the patient or even which type of mental health professional the patient will see. However, to date there has been little research to inform this debate.

MANAGEMENT IN GENERAL MEDICAL SETTINGS

A number of studies indicate that about half of those with psychiatric disorders (including depression) are detected in primary care settings. 54 Only about half of these receive any treatment, and that occurs largely (50% to 75% of the time) in the primary care setting rather than in the mental health care system.

A multisite outpatient study of health care system factors in the recognition and care of depressed patients found that 46% to 51% of these patients were recognized by medical clinicians, while 78% to 87% were recognized by mental health specialists. 55 Among the medical clinicians, depression was less likely to be recognized or treated under a prepaid system than under fee-for-service care. Nonetheless, depression outcomes in the general medical sector were similar under prepaid and fee-for-service care (because rates of treatment were similarly low to moderate in both payment systems). 56

Several studies have examined physician factors that may influence recognition of depression. In one study, high physician interest in psychosocial issues did not correlate with the type of interviewing behaviors necessary to diagnose depression. Several specific interviewing behaviors did, however, lead to great recognition of depression, including open-ended questioning, periodically summarizing the patient's information, and responding to nonverbal and emotional patient cues. 57 Robbins and colleagues found that primary care physicians who were more sensitive to affective and nonverbal patient cues made more psychiatric diagnoses, and physicians who tended to blame patients for their depression made fewer and less accurate diagnoses. 58 Overall, these authors found that false-positive psychiatric diagnoses were uncommon.

A few studies have examined the impact of recognition on patient outcomes. Simon and VonKorff screened patients attending a primary care clinic and interviewed those with positive depression screens: they found that unrecognized and untreated cases had a milder self-limited illness. 59 As a result, they concluded that a focus on increased recognition might not improve overall outcomes significantly. The Groningen Primary Care Study also found that recognition of psychological disorders by primary care physicians was not associated with better patient outcomes, and concluded that recognition was necessary but not sufficient unless primary care physicians had the skills or resources to provide appropriate treatments after making a diagnosis. 60

Katon and Gonzales reviewed all randomized trials of mental health interventions in primary care settings developed by consultation-liaison psychiatrists. 61 They too concluded that screening interventions and feedback to the primary care physician somewhat increased recognition and treatment of depression, but that the effect on patient outcomes was unclear. In general, although the link between diagnosis and treatment of depression may seem conceptually clear, in practice these tasks are not invariably linked. 62

A recent review of studies of unrecognized psychiatric illnesses in general medical outpatient settings found that: (1) half of the disorders were unrecognized; (2) the natural history of unrecognized depression suggested no worsening of course; and (3) interventions to teach physicians led to greater recognition and treatment but had little short-term effect on symptoms or health care use. 63 The review concluded that efforts to increase recognition alone that are not connected to strategies to improve management may not reduce patient suffering or decrease health care costs. Nonetheless, this conclusion may be less applicable over a longer period of time, as some milder depressions may worsen slowly over time.

Four studies have examined the rates of recognition of psychiatric disorders in children in primary care settings: the percentage of cases recognized ranged from 17% to 59%. 64 – 67 Insufficient data exist to reach any conclusions about the clinical or economic significance of such nonrecognition in children.

Even when patients' depression is recognized, treatment provided is highly variable. One study on high utilizers of one HMO's primary care medical services (a patient group known to be at high risk of depression) found that half of these patients were clinically depressed, yet only 45% of the depressed high utilizers had received an antidepressant during the preceding year. 68 Only one fourth of those receiving an antidepressant received a dose or duration of treatment that would be considered adequate by relevant practice parameters.

Another study that looked at depression treatment in a variety of different primary care settings found that only 11% of mildly and 29% of markedly depressed patients received any antidepressant. 69 In that same study, only about one third of all of the patients cared for by psychiatrists received any antidepressant, and only 41% received an adequate dose. In another study in a group of academically affiliated primary care offices, physicians were explicitly informed by investigators of patients with major depression and urged to provide treatment. 70 Only about three fourths of the patients were treated, 60% of them with antidepressants; only 43% of those prescribed antidepressants received them in amounts consistent with AHCPR guidelines.

Psychotherapy or counseling is even scarcer in primary care settings. In the Medical Outcomes Study conducted at multiple sites, less than half of depressed patients in the general medical sector settings received 3 minutes or more of counseling from their primary care physicians. 71 Counseling rates were lower under prepaid than fee-for-service plans.

A limited number of studies have examined the effect of increasing treatment to depressed patients by various methods. One small uncontrolled study examined high utilizers who were depressed and who were treated by the primary care physician with antidepressants following a study protocol. There were significant reductions in symptoms, improvements in quality-of-life measures, and increases in work performance. Overall general medical costs fell by 50%, and even when depression treatment costs were figured in, there remained a modest cost saving. 72

Sturm and Wells estimated the effects of restricting access to specialty care and predicted that shifting patients away from mental health specialists decreased costs but worsened patients' functional outcomes. 73 They suggested that there should be quality improvement in the general medical sector rather than changing the primary care–specialty care mix. Schulberg and colleagues attempted to have primary care physicians follow AHCPR guidelines for treatment of depression. 74 They found that doing so is feasible but challenging, that keeping patients in treatment is problematic (only 33% completed a full treatment regimen per the guidelines), and that physicians need to be more flexible than the guide regimens suggest. 75 There was a 70% recovery at 8 months when AHCPR guidelines were adhered to versus a 20% recovery among patients receiving usual care, suggesting high effectiveness of the guidelines. In those recovering, functional improvements occurred across a broad range of domains in addition to symptomatic improvement. 76

Two recent studies looked at a multifaceted intervention that integrated a psychiatrist or psychologist into the primary care area. The intervention consisted of a structured program of patient education, behavioral counseling, improved psychopharmacologic management, drug refill tracking, and physician education. This approach led to significant improvement in depression, patient satisfaction, medication adherence, and cost-effectiveness when compared with usual care, but only for those with major depression and not for those with minor (milder) depression. 77 – 79

BARRIERS TO OPTIMAL MANAGEMENT

Recognition barriers.

Because of the stigma still attached to psychiatric illnesses, many patients are reluctant to acknowledge to themselves or their physicians that they are experiencing emotional distress. Patients may deny or minimize symptoms, rationalize them as expectable because of life stresses or as due to other general medical problems, believe them to be failures of will or moral shortcomings, or not see them as within the physician's purview or capabilities. These attitudes may be reinforced by familial or cultural beliefs. Similarly, patients may be reluctant to disclose information they fear could be included in insurance or employment records; they may be especially concerned about having a psychiatric diagnosis recorded. 80

Attention also has been called to physician deficits in this area. 81 , 82 Some physicians harbor the belief that depression is not a “real” illness. Some believe that depression reflects a personal shortcoming or laziness and is thus something the patient could improve with more effort, willpower, or “positive thinking.” Others are doubtful about the existence of depression as a clinical entity because of the absence of confirmatory laboratory or radiologic studies. These doubts may take different forms, from simply never inquiring about depressive symptoms to having an unduly high threshold for considering depression in the differential diagnosis of a patient's chief complaint.

Even when attitudes are appropriate, some physicians lack the requisite skills to properly elicit the relevant history. 83 Many adopt a highly focused closed-ended interviewing technique that may prevent patients from bringing up affectively laden or psychosocial material. Failure to recognize nonverbal cues and to ask follow-up questions in response to indications of distress are also potential impediments to obtaining an appropriate history. Some physicians fail to offer empathic, supportive comments during the interview, cues that patients may interpret as lack of interest or unwillingness to discuss these concerns. Finally, some physicians, uncomfortable with displays of affect, may consciously or unwittingly steer the interview toward less difficult areas.

Differences in age, gender, or cultural background may result in barriers in the interaction between patient and physician. One of the most common interactional barriers is the medicalization of presenting complaints. 84 As discussed above, 50% to 70% of depressed patients will present with somatic rather than psychological complaints. 85 Patients may believe or hope that something physical is wrong, the cause will be found, and they will be healed. Because of stigma issues, there may be a potent investment on the part of the patient in keeping the focus on the somatic complaints. The physician, too, may feel more comfortable in the physical realm, and the assessment will emphasize these complaints. This focus in medical training, which covertly reinforces a more limited biomedical rather than biopsychosocial model, has been referred to as the “hidden medical curriculum.” 86 Symptoms that are not physical in nature (e.g., sadness, guilt, hopelessness) may not be asked about or voiced by the patient, and the recognition that the patient has a psychiatric disorder eludes both patient and physician. This appears to be especially the case among older patients.

Medicalization and other barriers may be compounded by the increasing time demands of an office visit. Physicians may be reluctant to elicit affectively laden information that can require more time to explore and to reach closure. Patients also may be reluctant to discuss topics for which they know insufficient time may be available. In addition, physicians often have a multiplicity of tasks during an office visit, such as assessment and ongoing management of known general medical problems, prevention and health maintenance, and paperwork. Limited remuneration for the time spent on assessing depression may influence the outcome.

In addition, the lack of appropriate performance standards for depression in managed care and other medical settings limits knowledge of actual practice and impedes feedback to clinicians, administrators, consumers, and purchasers of health care.

Diagnostic Barriers

One group of barriers concerns physician appraisal of the patient's willingness to consider having a psychiatric disorder. Physicians may not wish to compromise patient confidentiality or may fear offending patients or families by making a psychiatric diagnosis. At times, physicians may accurately assess that a patient is simply not ready to accept a diagnosis (e.g., by observing defensiveness during relevant inquiries), so they defer a full assessment decision about the diagnosis.

Other barriers pertain to appropriate diagnostic criteria. The DSM-IV criteria were developed largely in psychiatric settings, and some have questioned their applicability to primary care and other medical situations. One controversy concerns patients who meet some but not all criteria for major depression, a group encountered far more often in primary care than psychiatric settings. Another problematic group are those with mixed symptoms of depression and anxiety that fall short of DSM-IV thresholds for a disorder. Patients in either of these groups may be symptomatic and have functional impairment but, because they fail to meet full diagnostic criteria, may not be appropriately diagnosed or treated.

A third set of factors relates to inadequate physician knowledge about depression. Physicians may be unfamiliar with the diagnostic criteria and thus may not appreciate the differences between transient sadness, bereavement, and a clinical illness. Others understand the diagnostic criteria but fail to appreciate the import of the illness: they may believe it will remit spontaneously, that it is understandable in the context of the patient's life, or that it does not cause much suffering or dysfunction. Thus, they may not perform a careful diagnostic assessment because they would not be inclined to treat anyway.

The complexities of some clinical situations also may impede an accurate diagnosis. Symptoms of certain concurrent general medical conditions may overlap those of depression and may be attributed to the concurrent condition. A similar attribution problem may occur when a patient is taking medications that can cause depressive symptoms. When patients have another psychiatric disorder in addition to depression (e.g., panic disorder), that condition's symptoms might overshadow the depression and cause a missed diagnosis. Finally, depression may simulate other psychiatric disorders (e.g., dementia) and thus confound the diagnostic process. One study found that recognition of depression by primary care physicians was only 29% in patients with comorbid general medical illness versus 67% in those without comorbidity. 87

Financial considerations also may intrude: for example, reluctance to diagnose depression in a patient with little or no mental health third-party coverage because the patient may be unable to obtain care once the diagnosis is made. The physician may find it necessary to treat specific physical symptoms (e.g., insomnia, pain, fatigue) because these nonpsychiatric disorders will be covered. Rost and colleagues describe some of the reasons that physicians deliberately miscode diagnoses. 80

Treatment Barriers

Some patients may be unwilling to accept a diagnosis of depression and thus will not accept any treatment. Others may be hesitant about beginning specific treatments. Some patients are reluctant to take antidepressants for fear of “becoming addicted,”“needing a crutch,” taking “mind-control drugs,” or for other reasons; some may then be prone to mislabel pretreatment symptoms as drug-related after beginning on antidepressants. 88 Other patients will avoid psychotherapy, fearing it to be too intrusive, complicated, lengthy, expensive, or overly focused on childhood experiences. Patients who begin treatment may be dissuaded by unexpected or unpleasant side effects of medications, delay in sufficient improvement, or difficulty in forming an alliance with a psychotherapist. Patients also may be reluctant to see a mental health specialist even if such services are available.

Even if patients initially agree to treatment, they must adhere to enough of a treatment plan to make it likely that outcomes will be improved. Many patients discontinue their medications within the first month. 89 Patient education improves adherence for those with depression in almost all studies in which it has been examined, as it does for many other medical conditions. The difference between outcomes of adherent and nonadherent patients may be considerable, equivalent to the difference between active antidepressant use and a placebo. 90

Several physician-related barriers exist as well. As noted above, too many physicians interpret a depression as “appropriate” for the patient's circumstances and thus not in need of treatment. At other times, physicians will fail to appreciate the duration or severity of a depression and take an inappropriately expectant approach, withholding treatment for a certain time or unless certain conditions are met.

Even when the physician decides that treatment is warranted, the treatment offered may be suboptimal. Antidepressants may be prescribed in inadequate doses or for periods too short to be effective. A common problem is that a physician reacts to reports of side effects that occur shortly after starting an antidepressant by discontinuing the drug, lowering the dose below the therapeutic range, or switching to another drug. This may lead to a series of inadequate drug trials, resulting in multiple side effects but no improvement. Not uncommonly, the patient may decide to forgo further treatment.

Similar problems may occur with psychotherapy. Because few physicians are trained in the empirically proven effective psychotherapies, brief office counseling may be offered. This results in psychotherapy of inadequate intensity or duration. Even if referral is made to a mental health practitioner, that clinician too may undertake a form of psychotherapy (most commonly psychodynamic psychotherapy) that has not been proved to be efficacious for depression.

A number of health care system factors also serve as barriers to treatments. Third-party coverage for mental health care may be limited or nonexistent. Thus, patients may be covered for only a certain number, duration, or frequency of psychotherapy sessions. Even though the empirically validated psychotherapies generally require only 12 to 20 sessions, this often exceeds a health care plan's limits for psychotherapy. Visits for medication checks, even if provided by the primary care physician, may be considered part of the mental health benefit, so the lowered limits on visits, percentage of reimbursement, or total costs covered and any higher copayments may apply. In some settings in which mental health care is carved out, primary care physicians may not be reimbursed for any treatment of depression they provide.

In many areas (particularly rural), availability of mental health professionals may be limited, and patients must make do with whatever care the primary care physician or a limited mental health clinician community can provide. Patients who are covered by mental health carve outs must accept the care provided through that system, even if it is difficult to access or limited in provision.

It is likely that the use of newer antidepressants, despite being more expensive than older agents, results in equal or lower total costs overall by reducing adverse drug reactions, drug monitoring, and hospitalizations for worsened depression or other adverse events (e.g., severe side effects, suicide attempts). 91 , 92 Nonetheless, some managed care organizations continue to influence treatment by formulary restrictions of antidepressant drugs, often in favor of older, less expensive, and less safe choices. Managed care organizations also may influence physician behavior by discouraging appropriate specialty referrals, thus reducing access of depressed patients in need of specific psychotherapies or more expert psychopharmacologic care.

Barriers to recognition, diagnosis, and optimal treatment are summarized in Table 3 .

Some Barriers to Recognition, Diagnosis, and Optimal Treatment of Depression *

ACTIVITIES TO REDUCE BARRIERS

Many professional organizations and advocacy groups have drawn attention to the undertreatment of depression and the need to increase public and professional awareness. For example, a consensus panel sponsored by the National Depression and Manic-Depressive Association issued a report on undertreatment of depression, 93 proposing five immediate steps to reduce the gap between knowledge about depression and actual treatment received: enhancing the role of patients and families, developing performance standards for behavioral health care, increasing provider knowledge and awareness, enhancing collaboration among providers for disease management, and conducting research for new treatments.

Many attempts have been made to identify critical skills and knowledge for primary care physicians. A model curriculum for physicians to diagnose and treat the most common mental and behavioral disorders seen in primary care settings has been developed by a task force of the Society for General Internal Medicine, with input from the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Physician and Patient, the American Association of Medicine and Psychiatry, and the American Psychiatric Association. 94 Major depression and dysthymia are included among the “mental disorders of central importance in primary care.”

The importance of family physicians has been highlighted by publications such as a White paper of the American Academy of Family Physicians that referred to mental health services as “an essential component of comprehensive primary medical care.” 95 A model curriculum for the psychiatric training of family practitioners also has been developed. 96

The primary care version of DSM-IV is designed to assist in the recognition and diagnosis of depression; practice guidelines for treating major depression in adults in primary care settings have been developed by the AHCPR. The American Psychiatric Association, with input from many medical organizations, also has developed treatment guidelines for major depression in adults, which are primarily directed at psychiatrists, but may be helpful to primary care physicians as well. 97

An example of an approach to teaching the interviewing skills needed to increase recognition of depression is McWhinney's “patient-centered” and “problem-based” approach to interviewing, which has been extensively tested in Great Britain. 98 These techniques may be taught to trainees or self-taught by practicing physicians. Evidence suggests that depression-recognition skills are improved and that the patients of physicians using these techniques have better clinical outcomes. 99

Once the diagnosis is made and treatment initiated, so-called disease management programs may assist with clinical monitoring and patient adherence. Several pharmaceutical manufacturers and managed care entities have developed proprietary programs to help educate patients about depression, assist physicians in tracking the course of a patient's illness, and increase treatment adherence. The effectiveness of such programs is not currently known. Model programs such as those of Schulberg et al., 74 Katon et al., 77 and others, which have been or are being rigorously studied, provide additional, on-site staff for treatment as well as physician education and guideline utilization.

For the past 10 years, the National Institute of Mental Health has operated the Depression Awareness, Recognition, and Treatment program, 100 which includes educational components directed to the public, professionals, and employers. More recently, it has emphasized the importance of recognizing and treating depression when it co-occurs with other general medical disorders. A similar, nongovernmental approach was the Defeat Depression Campaign, a public and professional education campaign undertaken jointly by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal College of General Practitioners that ran in the United Kingdom from 1992 through l996. The effects of the campaign are currently being evaluated. 101

Other campaigns that emphasize public awareness include National Depression Screening Day (part of National Mental Illness Awareness Week) each October and the National Public Education Campaign on Clinical Depression, a public service campaign launched in 1993. The latter is sponsored by the National Mental Health Association and cosponsored by more than 100 professional groups and advocacy groups. The National Association for Research on Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders (NARSAD) also has a public education campaign on depression, whose slogan is “depression is a flaw in chemistry, not character.”

The American Medical Association has adopted policies that emphasize physician and public education, the need for outcomes research, and the importance of equivalent third-party coverage for psychiatric disorders. The following statements, recommended by the Council on Scientific Affairs, were adopted as AMA Policy at the AMA Interim Meeting in December 1997: (1) The AMA encourages medical schools, primary care residencies, and other training programs as appropriate to include the appropriate knowledge and skills to enable graduates to recognize, diagnose, and treat depression, both when it occurs by itself and when it occurs with another general medical condition. (2) The AMA also encourages all physicians providing clinical care to acquire the same knowledge and skills. (3) The AMA encourages additional research into the course and outcomes of patients with depression who are seen in general medical settings and into the development of clinical and systems approaches designed to improve patient outcomes. Furthermore, any approaches designed to manage care by reduction in the demand for services should be based on scientifically sound outcomes research findings. (4) The AMA fully supports equivalent third-party coverage for all psychiatric disorders, including depression, with that for other medical disorders, and it strongly opposes any arbitrary restrictions or limitations on the provision of mental health services. (5) The AMA will work with the National Institute on Mental Health and appropriate medical specialty and mental health advocacy groups to increase public awareness about depression, to reduce the stigma associated with depression, and to increase patient access to quality care for depression.

Depression, a commonly occurring disorder in the general population, is seen even more frequently in general medical settings and is associated with marked individual and family suffering, an elevated risk of suicide, functional impairment, and a high economic toll in health care costs and lost productivity. Diagnostic criteria are well established, and a number of screening tools exist for use in symptomatic patients. Highly effective psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic treatments are available. Most cases of depression seen in general medical settings are milder forms of the illness than are typically seen in specialty settings, and they are frequently amenable to treatment in the primary care setting by those with appropriate expertise.

Depression frequently co-occurs with a number of chronic general medical illnesses, and such comorbidity may complicate the recognition of a depressive illness. Co-occurring depression often impairs patient adherence to medical care and may seriously worsen the course and prognosis of both conditions. Therefore, it is essential to diagnose and treat such co-occurring depression.

Only about half of all cases of depression are recognized and diagnosed in primary care settings, although such unrecognized cases generally are milder and more self-limited in nature. Improved recognition by physicians is largely associated with attitudes about depression and the use of certain specific interviewing skills. Even when cases are recognized, both pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic treatments provided often fall short of existing practice guidelines. When practice guidelines are followed, patient outcomes are quite good.

Barriers to diagnosing and treating depression in general medical settings include those related to stigma; patient somatization and denial; time; patient adherence to treatment; physician knowledge and skill deficits; lack of availability of providers and specific treatments; limitations of third-party coverage; and restrictions on specialist, drug, and psychotherapeutic care. A number of programs are under way to reduce these barriers, but undertreatment remains a serious problem.

Acknowledgments

Members and staff of the Council on Scientific Affairs at the time this report was prepared: Ronald M. Davis, MD, Detroit, Mich (Chair); Joseph A. Riggs, MD, Haddon Fields, NJ (Chair-Elect); Roy D. Altman, MD, Miami, Fla; Hunter C. Champion, New Orleans, La; Scott D. Deitchman, MD, MPH, Decatur, Ga; Myron Genel, MD, New Haven, Conn; John P. Howe III, MD, San Antonio, Tex; Mitchell S. Karlan, MD, Los Angeles, Calif; Mohamed Khaleem Khan, MD, PhD, Boston, Mass; Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD, Buffalo, NY; Michael A. Williams, MD, Baltimore, Md; Donald C. Young, MD, Iowa City, Iowa; Linda B. Bresolin, PhD (CSA Secretary), Barry D. Dickinson, PhD (CSA Assistant Secretary), Chicago, Ill; Larry S. Goldman, MD (Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago).

Essay On Depression: Causes, Symptoms And Effects

Our life is full of emotional ups and downs, but when the time of down lasts too long or influences our ability to function, in this case, probably, you suffer from common serious illness, which is called depression. Clinical depression affects your mood, thinking process, your body and behaviour. According to the researches, in the United States about 19 million people, i.e. one in ten adults, annually suffer from depression, and about 2/3 of them do not get necessary help. An appropriate treatment can alleviate symptoms of depression in more than 80% of such cases. However, since depression is usually not recognized, it continues to cause unnecessary suffering.

Depression is a disease that dominates you and weakens your body, it influences men as well as women, but women experience depression about two times more often than men.

Since this issue is very urgent nowadays, we decided to write this cause and effect essay on depression to attract the public attention one more time to this problem. I hope it will be informative and instructive for you. If you are interested in reading essays on similar or any other topic, you should visit our website . There you will find not only various essays, but also you can get help in essay writing . All you need is to contact our team, and everything else we will do for you.

Depression is a strong psychological disorder, from which usually suffers not only a patients, but also his / hers family, relatives, friends etc.

General information

More often depression develops on the basis of stress or prolonged traumatic situation. Frequently depressive disorders hide under the guise of a bad mood or temper features. In order to prevent severe consequences it is important to figure out how and why depression begins.

Symptoms and causes of depression

As a rule, depression develops slowly and insensibly for a person and for his close ones. At the initial stage most of people are not aware about their illness, because they think that many symptoms are just the features of their personality. Experiencing inner discomfort, which can be difficult to express in words, people do not ask for professional help, as a rule. They usually go to doctor at the moment, when the disease is already firmly holds the patient causing unbearable suffering.

Risk factors for depression:

• being female;
• the presence of depression in family anamnesis;
• early depression in anamnesis;
• early loss of parents;
• the experience of violence in anamnesis;
• personal features;
• stressors (parting, guilt);
• alcohol / drug addiction;
• neurological diseases (Parkinson's disease, apoplexy).

Signs of depression

Depression influences negatively all the aspects of human life. Inadequate psychological defense mechanisms, in their turn, affect destructively not only psychological, but also biological processes.

The first signs of depression are apathy, not depending on the circumstances, indifference to everything what is going on, weakening of motor activity; these are the main clinical symptoms of depression . If their combination is observed for more than two weeks, urgent professional help is required.

Psychological symptoms:

• depressed mood, unhappiness;
• loss of interest, reduced motivation, loss of energy;
• self-doubt, guilt, inner emptiness;
• decrease in speed of thinking, inability to make decisions;
• anxiety, fear and pessimism about the future;
• daily fluctuations;
• possible delirium;
• suicidal thoughts.

Somatic symptoms:

• vital disorders;
• disturbed sleep (early waking, oversleeping);
• eating disorders;
• constipation;
• feeling of tightness of the skull, dizziness, feeling of compression;
• vegetative symptoms.

Causes of depression

It is accepted to think in modern psychiatry that the development of depression, as well as most of other mental disorders, requires the combined effect of three factors: psychological, biological and social.

Psychological factor (“Personality structure”)

There are three types of personality especially prone to depression:

1) “Statothymic personality” that is characterized by exaggerated conscientiousness, diligence, accuracy;

2) Melancholic personality type with its desire for order, constancy, pedantry, exessive demands on itself;

3) Hyperthymic type of personality that is characterized by self-doubt, frequent worries, with obviously low self-esteem.

People, whose organism biologically tends to depression development, due to education and other social environmental factors form such personality features, which in adverse social situations, especially while chronic stress, cause failure of psychological adaptation mechanisms, skills to deal with stress or lack of coping strategies.

Such people are characterized by:

• lack of confidence in their own abilities;
• excessive secrecy and isolation;
• excessive self-critical attitude towards yourself;
• waiting for the support of the close ones;
• developed pessimism;
• inability to resist stress situations;
• emotional expressiveness.

Biological factor:

• the presence of unfavorable heredity;
• somatic and neurological head injury that violated brain activity;
• changes in the hormonal system;
• chronobiological factors: seasonal depressive disorders, daily fluctuations, shortening of REM sleep;
• side effects of some medications.
• Heredity and family tendency to depression play significant role in predisposition to this disease. It is noticed that relatives of those who suffer from depression usually have different psychosomatic disorders.

Social factor:

• the presence of frequent stress situations, chronic stress;
• adverse family relationships;
• adverse childhood experience, the absence of tenderness from parents, ill-treatment and sexual harassment, interpersonal loss, severe methods of education, negative childhood memories;
• urbanization;
• significant changes in the life;
• population migration;
• increased lifetime.

People in a state of chronic stress suffer from depression more often. If some acute stress situation happens during the period of chronic stress, the probability of depression symptoms development increases.

If you decide to fight the depression, remember that you are not alone! Every fifth person in the world at least once in the life experienced depression. If you notice the signs of depression that disturb you for more than two weeks, you should go to the specialist.

Do not delay visit, in this case time does not heal. The professionalism of the doctors and a complex program of treatment will help to get rid of any kind of depression.

Where to go for help

If you do not where to go for help, ask your family physician, obstetrician, gynecologist or the clinic. In an emergency situation, the emergency doctor can provide temporary help for patients with emotional problems and give them an advice where and how they can ask for the further help.

Here is the list of people and organizations that can diagnose and suggest a course of treatment, or can give a direction to the examination and treatment.

• Family doctors.
• Such specialists as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and consultants on mental health.
• Health maintenance organizations.
• Local centers for the treatment of mental illness.
• The Department of Psychiatry in hospitals and outpatient clinics.
• Programs at universities and medical schools.
• Family assistance services and social services departments.
• Private clinics and institutions.
• Care centers in the workplace.
• Local health and (or) mental health communities.

It is very important in depressive episode treatment to understand that this is depression of a certain person, do not make attempts to excessive generalization of symptoms and factors of disease development. It requires personal approach to each patient.

So, as you can see, depression is a serious disease that requires professional treatment. If you manage to recognize the signs of depression at its early stage and ask for professional help, you can successfully overcome this problem. I hope this essay about depression was useful for you, and you got what you were looking for.

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434 Depression Essay Titles & Research Topics: Argumentative, Controversial, and More

Depression is undeniably one of the most prevalent mental health conditions globally, affecting approximately 5% of adults worldwide. It often manifests as intense feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and a loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities. Many also experience physical symptoms like fatigue, sleep disturbances, and appetite changes. Recognizing and addressing this mental disorder is extremely important to save lives and treat the condition.

In this article, we’ll discuss how to write an essay about depression and introduce depression essay topics and research titles for students that may be inspirational.

• 🔝 Top Depression Essay Titles
• ✅ Essay Prompts
• 💡 Research Topics
• 🔎 Essay Titles
• 💭 Speech Topics
• 📝 Essay Structure

🔗 References

🔝 top 12 research titles about depression.

• How is depression treated?
• Depression: Risk factors.
• The symptoms of depression.
• What types of depression exist?
• Depression in young people.
• Differences between anxiety and depression.
• The parents’ role in depression therapy.
• Drugs as the root cause of depression.
• Dangerous consequences of untreated depression.
• Effect of long-term depression.
• Different stages of depression.
• Treatment for depression.

✅ Prompts for Essay about Depression

Struggling to find inspiration for your essay? Look no further! We’ve put together some valuable essay prompts on depression just for you!

Prompt for Personal Essay about Depression

Sharing your own experience with depression in a paper can be a good idea. Others may feel more motivated to overcome their situation after reading your story. You can also share valuable advice by discussing things or methods that have personally helped you deal with the condition.

For example, in your essay about depression, you can:

• Tell about the time you felt anxious, hopeless, or depressed;
• Express your opinion on depression based on the experiences from your life;
• Suggest a way of dealing with the initial symptoms of depression ;
• Share your ideas on how to protect mental health at a young age.

How to Overcome Depression: Essay Prompt

Sadness is a common human emotion, but depression encompasses more than just sadness. As reported by the National Institute of Mental Health, around 21 million adults in the United States, roughly 8.4% of the total adult population , faced at least one significant episode of depression in 2020. When crafting your essay about overcoming depression, consider exploring the following aspects:

• Depression in young people and adolescents;
• The main causes of depression;
• The symptoms of depression;
• Ways to treat depression;
• Help from a psychologist (cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy ).

Postpartum Depression: Essay Prompt

The birth of a child often evokes a spectrum of powerful emotions, spanning from exhilaration and happiness to apprehension and unease. It can also trigger the onset of depression. Following childbirth, many new mothers experience postpartum “baby blues,” marked by shifts in mood, bouts of tears, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. To shed light on the subject of postpartum depression, explore the following questions:

• What factors may increase the risk of postpartum depression?
• Is postpartum depression predictable?
• How to prevent postpartum depression?
• What are the symptoms of postpartum depression?
• What kinds of postpartum depression treatments exist?

Prompt for Essay about Teenage Depression

Teenage depression is a mental health condition characterized by sadness and diminishing interest in daily activities. It can significantly impact a teenager’s thoughts, emotions, and behavior, often requiring long-term treatment and support.

By discussing the primary symptoms of teenage depression in your paper, you can raise awareness of the issue and encourage those in need to seek assistance. You can pay attention to the following aspects:

• Emotional changes (feelings of sadness, anger, hopelessness, guilt, etc.);
• Behavioral changes (loss of energy and appetite , less attention to personal hygiene, self-harm, etc.);
• New addictions (drugs, alcohol, computer games, etc.).

💡 Research Topics about Depression

• The role of genetics in depression development.
• The effectiveness of different psychotherapeutic interventions for depression.
• Anti-depression non-pharmacological and medication treatment .
• The impact of childhood trauma on the onset of depression later in life.
• Exploring the efficacy of antidepressant medication in different populations.
• The impact of exercise on depression symptoms and treatment outcomes.
• Mild depression: pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy .
• The relationship between sleep disturbances and depression.
• The role of gut microbiota in depression and potential implications for treatment.
• Investigating the impact of social media on depression rates in adolescents.
• Depression, dementia, and delirium in older people .
• The efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy in preventing depression relapse.
• The influence of hormonal changes on depression risk.
• Assessing the effectiveness of self-help and digital interventions for depression.
• Herbal and complementary therapies for depression .
• The relationship between personality traits and vulnerability to depression.
• Investigating the long-term consequences of untreated depression on physical health.
• Exploring the link between chronic pain and depression.
• Depression in the elderly male .
• The impact of childhood experiences on depression outcomes in adulthood.
• The use of ketamine and other novel treatments for depression.
• The effect of stigma on depression diagnosis and treatment.
• The conducted family assessment: cases of depression .
• The role of social support in depression recovery.
• The effectiveness of online support groups for individuals with depression.
• Depression and cognitive decline in adults.
• Depression: PICOT question component exploration .
• Exploring the impact of nutrition and dietary patterns on depression symptoms.
• Investigating the efficacy of art-based therapies in depression treatment.
• The role of neuroplasticity in the development and treatment of depression.
• Depression among HIV-positive women .
• The influence of gender on depression prevalence and symptomatology.
• Investigating the impact of workplace factors on depression rates and outcomes.
• The efficacy of family-based interventions in reducing depression symptoms in teenagers.
• Frontline nurses’ burnout, anxiety, depression, and fear statuses .
• The role of early-life stress and adversity in depression vulnerability.
• The impact of various environmental factors on depression rates.
• Exploring the link between depression and cardiovascular health .
• Depression detection in adults in nursing practice .
• Virtual reality as a therapeutic tool for depression treatment.
• Investigating the impact of childhood bullying on depression outcomes.
• The benefits of animal-assisted interventions in depression management.
• Depression and physical exercise .
• The relationship between depression and suicidal behavior .
• The influence of cultural factors on depression symptom expression.
• Investigating the role of epigenetics in depression susceptibility.
• Depression associated with cognitive dysfunction .
• Exploring the impact of adverse trauma on the course of depression.
• The efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy in treating depression.
• The relationship between depression and substance use disorders .
• Depression and anxiety among college students .
• Investigating the effectiveness of group therapy for depression.
• Depression and chronic medical conditions .

Psychology Research Topics on Depression

• The influence of early attachment experiences on the development of depression.
• The impact of negative cognitive biases on depression symptomatology.
• Depression treatment plan for a queer patient .
• Examining the relationship between perfectionism and depression.
• The role of self-esteem in depression vulnerability and recovery.
• Exploring the link between maladaptive thinking styles (e.g., rumination, catastrophizing) and depression.
• Investigating the impact of social support on depression outcomes and resilience.
• Identifying depression in young adults at an early stage .
• The influence of parenting styles on the risk of depression in children and adolescents.
• The role of self-criticism and self-compassion in depression treatment.
• Exploring the relationship between identity development and depression in emerging adulthood.
• The role of learned helplessness in understanding depression and its treatment.
• Depression in the elderly .
• Examining the connection between self-efficacy beliefs and depression symptoms.
• The influence of social comparison processes on depression and body image dissatisfaction .
• Exploring the impact of trauma-related disorders on depression.
• The role of resilience factors in buffering against the development of depression.
• Investigating the relationship between personality traits and depression.
• Depression and workplace violence .
• The impact of cultural factors on depression prevalence and symptom presentation.
• Investigating the effects of chronic stress on depression risk.
• The role of coping strategies in depression management and recovery.
• The correlation between discrimination/prejudice and depression/anxiety .
• Exploring the influence of gender norms and societal expectations on depression rates.
• The impact of adverse workplace conditions on employee depression.
• Investigating the effectiveness of narrative therapy in treating depression.
• Cognitive behavior and depression in adolescents .
• Childhood emotional neglect and adult depression.
• The influence of perceived social support on treatment outcomes in depression.
• The effects of childhood bullying on the development of depression.
• The impact of intergenerational transmission of depression within families.
• Depression in children: symptoms and treatments .
• Investigating the link between body dissatisfaction and depression in adolescence.
• The influence of adverse life events and chronic stressors on depression risk.
• The effects of peer victimization on the development of depression in adolescence.
• Counselling clients with depression and addiction .
• The role of experiential avoidance in depression and its treatment.
• The impact of social media use and online interactions on depression rates.
• Depression management in adolescent .
• Exploring the relationship between emotional intelligence and depression symptomatology.
• Investigating the influence of cultural values and norms on depression stigma and help-seeking behavior.
• The effects of childhood maltreatment on neurobiological markers of depression.
• Psychological and emotional conditions of suicide and depression .
• Exploring the relationship between body dissatisfaction and depression.
• The influence of self-worth contingencies on depression vulnerability and treatment response.
• The impact of social isolation and loneliness on depression rates.
• Psychology of depression among college students .
• The effects of perfectionistic self-presentation on depression in college students.
• The role of mindfulness skills in depression prevention and relapse prevention.
• Investigating the influence of adverse neighborhood conditions on depression risk.
• Personality psychology and depression .
• The impact of attachment insecurity on depression symptomatology.

Postpartum Depression Research Topics

• Identifying risk factors for postpartum depression.
• Exploring the role of hormonal changes in postpartum depression.
• “Baby blues” or postpartum depression and evidence-based care .
• The impact of social support on postpartum depression.
• The effectiveness of screening tools for early detection of postpartum depression.
• The relationship between postpartum depression and maternal-infant bonding .
• Postpartum depression educational program results .
• Identifying effective interventions for preventing and treating postpartum depression.
• Examining the impact of cultural factors on postpartum depression rates.
• Investigating the role of sleep disturbances in postpartum depression.
• Depression and postpartum depression relationship .
• Exploring the impact of a traumatic birth experience on postpartum depression.
• Assessing the impact of breastfeeding difficulties on postpartum depression.
• Understanding the role of genetic factors in postpartum depression.
• Postpartum depression: consequences .
• Investigating the impact of previous psychiatric history on postpartum depression risk.
• The potential benefits of exercise on postpartum depression symptoms.
• The efficacy of psychotherapeutic interventions for postpartum depression.
• Postpartum depression in the twenty-first century .
• The influence of partner support on postpartum depression outcomes.
• Examining the relationship between postpartum depression and maternal self-esteem.
• The impact of postpartum depression on infant development and well-being.
• Maternal mood symptoms in pregnancy and postpartum depression .
• The effectiveness of group therapy for postpartum depression management.
• Identifying the role of inflammation and immune dysregulation in postpartum depression.
• Investigating the impact of childcare stress on postpartum depression.
• Postpartum depression among low-income US mothers .
• The role of postnatal anxiety symptoms in postpartum depression.
• The impact of postpartum depression on the marital relationship.
• The influence of postpartum depression on parenting practices and parental stress.
• Postpartum depression: symptoms, role of cultural factors, and ways to support .
• Investigating the efficacy of pharmacological treatments for postpartum depression.
• The impact of postpartum depression on breastfeeding initiation and continuation.
• The relationship between postpartum depression and post-traumatic stress disorder .
• Postpartum depression and its identification .
• The impact of postpartum depression on cognitive functioning and decision-making.
• Investigating the influence of cultural norms and expectations on postpartum depression rates.
• The impact of maternal guilt and shame on postpartum depression symptoms.
• Beck’s postpartum depression theory: purpose, concepts, and significance .
• Understanding the role of attachment styles in postpartum depression vulnerability.
• Investigating the effectiveness of online support groups for women with postpartum depression.
• The impact of socioeconomic factors on postpartum depression prevalence.
• Perinatal depression: research study and design .
• The efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions for postpartum depression.
• Investigating the influence of birth spacing on postpartum depression risk.
• The role of trauma history in postpartum depression development.
• The link between the birth experience and postnatal depression .
• How does postpartum depression affect the mother-infant interaction and bonding ?
• The effectiveness of home visiting programs in preventing and managing postpartum depression.
• Assessing the influence of work-related stress on postpartum depression.
• The relationship between postpartum depression and pregnancy-related complications.
• The role of personality traits in postpartum depression vulnerability.

🔎 Depression Essay Titles

Depression essay topics: cause & effect.

• The effects of childhood trauma on the development of depression in adults.
• The impact of social media usage on the prevalence of depression in adolescents.
• “Predictors of Postpartum Depression” by Katon et al.
• The effects of environmental factors on depression rates.
• The relationship between academic pressure and depression among college students.
• The relationship between financial stress and depression.
• The best solution to predict depression because of bullying .
• How does long-term unemployment affect mental health ?
• The effects of unemployment on mental health, particularly the risk of depression.
• The impact of genetics and family history of depression on an individual’s likelihood of developing depression.
• The relationship between depression and substance abuse .
• Child abuse and depression .
• The role of gender in the manifestation and treatment of depression.
• The effects of chronic stress on the development of depression.
• The link between substance abuse and depression.
• Depression among students at Elon University .
• The influence of early attachment styles on an individual’s vulnerability to depression.
• The effects of sleep disturbances on the severity of depression.
• Chronic illness and the risk of developing depression.
• Depression: symptoms and treatment .
• Adverse childhood experiences and the likelihood of experiencing depression in adulthood.
• The relationship between chronic illness and depression.
• The role of negative thinking patterns in the development of depression.
• Effects of depression among adolescents .
• The effects of poor body image and low self-esteem on the prevalence of depression.
• The influence of social support systems on preventing symptoms of depression.
• The effects of child neglect on adult depression rates.
• Depression caused by hormonal imbalance .
• The link between perfectionism and the risk of developing depression.
• The effects of a lack of sleep on depression symptoms.
• The effects of childhood abuse and neglect on the risk of depression.
• Social aspects of depression and anxiety .
• The impact of bullying on the likelihood of experiencing depression.
• The role of serotonin and neurotransmitter imbalances in the development of depression.
• The impact of a poor diet on depression rates.
• Depression and anxiety run in the family .
• The effects of childhood poverty and socioeconomic status on depression rates in adults.
• The impact of divorce on depression rates.
• The relationship between traumatic life events and the risk of developing depression.
• The influence of personality traits on susceptibility to depression.
• The impact of workplace stress on depression rates.
• Depression in older adults: causes and treatment .
• The impact of parental depression on children’s mental health outcomes.
• The effects of social isolation on the prevalence and severity of depression.
• The role of cultural factors in the manifestation and treatment of depression.
• The relationship between childhood bullying victimization and future depressive symptoms.
• The impact of early intervention and prevention programs on reducing the risk of postpartum depression.
• Treating mood disorders and depression .
• How do hormonal changes during pregnancy contribute to the development of depression?
• The effects of sleep deprivation on the onset and severity of postpartum depression.
• The impact of social media on depression rates among teenagers.
• The role of genetics in the development of depression.
• The impact of bullying on adolescent depression rates.
• Mental illness, depression, and wellness issues .
• The effects of a sedentary lifestyle on depression symptoms.
• The correlation between academic pressure and depression in students.
• The relationship between perfectionism and depression.
• The correlation between trauma and depression in military veterans.
• Anxiety and depression during childhood and adolescence .
• The impact of racial discrimination on depression rates among minorities.
• The relationship between chronic pain and depression.
• The impact of social comparison on depression rates among young adults.
• The effects of childhood abuse on adult depression rates.

Depression Argumentative Essay Topics

• The role of social media in contributing to depression among teenagers.
• The effectiveness of antidepressant medication: an ongoing debate.
• Depression treatment: therapy or medications ?
• Should depression screening be mandatory in schools and colleges?
• Is there a genetic predisposition to depression?
• The stigma surrounding depression: addressing misconceptions and promoting understanding.
• Implementation of depression screening in primary care .
• Is psychotherapy more effective than medication in treating depression?
• Is teenage depression overdiagnosed or underdiagnosed: a critical analysis.
• The connection between depression and substance abuse: untangling the relationship.
• Humanistic therapy of depression .
• Should ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) be a treatment option for severe depression?
• Where is depression more prevalent: in urban or rural communities? Analyzing the disparities.
• Is depression a result of chemical imbalance in the brain? Debunking the myth.
• Depression: a serious mental and behavioral problem .
• Should depression medication be prescribed for children and adolescents?
• The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in managing depression.
• Should depression in the elderly be considered a normal part of aging?
• Is depression hereditary? Investigating the role of genetics in depression risk.
• Different types of training in managing the symptoms of depression .
• The effectiveness of online therapy platforms in treating depression.
• Should psychedelic therapy be explored as an alternative treatment for depression?
• The connection between depression and cardiovascular health: Is there a link?
• The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in preventing depression relapse.
• Depression as a bad a clinical condition .
• Should mind-body interventions (e.g., yoga , meditation) be integrated into depression treatment?
• Should emotional support animals be prescribed for individuals with depression?
• The effectiveness of peer support groups in decreasing depression symptoms.
• The use of antidepressants: are they overprescribed or necessary for treating depression?
• Adult depression and anxiety as a complex problem .
• The effectiveness of therapy versus medication in treating depression.
• The stigma surrounding depression and mental illness: how can we reduce it?
• The debate over the legalization of psychedelic drugs for treating depression.
• The relationship between creativity and depression: does one cause the other?
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder and depression .
• The role of childhood trauma in shaping adult depression: Is it always a causal factor?
• The debate over the medicalization of sadness and grief as forms of depression.
• Alternative therapies, such as acupuncture or meditation, are effective in treating depression.
• Depression as a widespread mental condition .

Controversial Topics about Depression

• The existence of “chemical imbalance” in depression: fact or fiction?
• The over-reliance on medication in treating depression: are alternatives neglected?
• Is depression overdiagnosed and overmedicated in Western society?
• Measurement of an individual’s level of depression .
• The role of Big Pharma in shaping the narrative and treatment of depression.
• Should antidepressant advertisements be banned?
• The inadequacy of current diagnostic criteria for depression: rethinking the DSM-5.
• Is depression a biological illness or a product of societal factors?
• Literature review on depression .
• The overemphasis on biological factors in depression treatment: ignoring environmental factors.
• Is depression a normal reaction to an abnormal society?
• The influence of cultural norms on the perception and treatment of depression.
• Should children and adolescents be routinely prescribed antidepressants?
• The role of family in depression treatment .
• The connection between depression and creative genius: does depression enhance artistic abilities?
• The ethics of using placebo treatment for depression studies.
• The impact of social and economic inequalities on depression rates.
• Is depression primarily a mental health issue or a social justice issue?
• Depression disassembling and treating .
• Should depression screening be mandatory in the workplace?
• The influence of gender bias in the diagnosis and treatment of depression.
• The controversial role of religion and spirituality in managing depression.
• Is depression a result of individual weakness or societal factors?
• Abnormal psychology: anxiety and depression case .
• The link between depression and obesity: examining the bidirectional relationship.
• The connection between depression and academic performance : causation or correlation?
• Should depression medication be available over the counter?
• The impact of internet and social media use on depression rates: harmful or beneficial?
• Interacting in the workplace: depression .
• Is depression a modern epidemic or simply better diagnosed and identified?
• The ethical considerations of using animals in depression research.
• The effectiveness of psychedelic therapies for treatment-resistant depression.
• Is depression a disability? The debate on workplace accommodations.
• Polysubstance abuse among adolescent males with depression .
• The link between depression and intimate partner violence : exploring the relationship.
• The controversy surrounding “happy” pills and the pursuit of happiness.
• Is depression a choice? Examining the role of personal responsibility.

Good Titles for Depression Essays

• The poetic depictions of depression: exploring its representation in literature.
• The melancholic symphony: the influence of depression on classical music.
• Moderate depression symptoms and treatment .
• Depression in modern music: analyzing its themes and expressions.
• Cultural perspectives on depression: a comparative analysis of attitudes in different countries.
• Contrasting cultural views on depression in Eastern and Western societies.
• Diagnosing depression in the older population .
• The influence of social media on attitudes and perceptions of depression in global contexts.
• Countries with progressive approaches to mental health awareness.
• From taboo to acceptance: the evolution of attitudes towards depression.
• Depression screening tool in acute settings .
• The Bell Jar : analyzing Sylvia Plath’s iconic tale of depression .
• The art of despair: examining Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits as a window into depression.
• The Catcher in the Rye : Holden Caulfield’s battle with adolescent depression.
• Music as therapy: how jazz artists turned depression into art.
• Depression screening tool for a primary care center .
• The Nordic paradox: high depression rates in Scandinavian countries despite high-quality healthcare.
• The Stoic East: how Eastern philosophies approach and manage depression.
• From solitude to solidarity: collective approaches to depression in collectivist cultures.
• The portrayal of depression in popular culture: a critical analysis of movies and TV shows.
• The depression screening training in primary care .
• The impact of social media influencers on depression rates among young adults.
• The role of music in coping with depression: can specific genres or songs help alleviate depressive symptoms?
• The representation of depression in literature: a comparative analysis of classic and contemporary works.
• The use of art as a form of self-expression and therapy for individuals with depression.
• Depression management guidelines implementation .
• The role of religion in coping with depression: Christian and Buddhist practices.
• The representation of depression in the video game Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice .
• The role of nature in coping with depression: can spending time outdoors help alleviate depressive symptoms?
• The effectiveness of dance/movement therapy in treating depression among older adults.
• The National Institute for Health: depression management .
• The portrayal of depression in stand-up comedy: a study of comedians like Maria Bamford and Chris Gethard.
• The role of spirituality in coping with depression: Islamic and Hindu practices .
• The portrayal of depression in animated movies : an analysis of Inside Out and The Lion King .
• The representation of depression by fashion designers like Alexander McQueen and Rick Owens.
• Depression screening in primary care .
• The portrayal of depression in documentaries: an analysis of films like The Bridge and Happy Valley .
• The effectiveness of wilderness therapy in treating depression among adolescents.
• The connection between creativity and depression: how art can help heal.
• The role of Buddhist and Taoist practices in coping with depression.
• Mild depression treatment research funding sources .
• The portrayal of depression in podcasts: an analysis of the show The Hilarious World of Depression .
• The effectiveness of drama therapy in treating depression among children and adolescents.
• The representation of depression in the works of Vincent van Gogh and Edvard Munch.
• Depression in young people: articles review .
• The impact of social media on political polarization and its relationship with depression.
• The role of humor in coping with depression: a study of comedians like Ellen DeGeneres.
• The portrayal of depression in webcomics: an analysis of the comics Hyperbole and a Half .
• The effect of social media on mental health stigma and its relationship with depression.
• Depression and the impact of human services workers .
• The masked faces: hiding depression in highly individualistic societies.

💭 Depression Speech Topics

Informative speech topics about depression.

• Different types of depression and their symptoms.
• The causes of depression: biological, psychological, and environmental factors.
• How depression and physical issues are connected .
• The prevalence of depression in different age groups and demographics.
• The link between depression and anxiety disorders .
• Physical health: The effects of untreated depression.
• The role of genetics in predisposing individuals to depression.
• What you need to know about depression .
• How necessary is early intervention in treating depression?
• The effectiveness of medication in treating depression.
• The role of exercise in managing depressive symptoms.
• Depression in later life: overview .
• The relationship between substance abuse and depression.
• The impact of trauma on depression rates and treatment.
• The effectiveness of mindfulness meditation in managing depressive symptoms.
• Enzymes conversion and metabolites in major depression .
• The benefits and drawbacks of electroconvulsive therapy for severe depression.
• The effect of gender and cultural norms on depression rates and treatment.
• The effectiveness of alternative therapies for depression, such as acupuncture and herbal remedies .
• The importance of self-care in managing depression.
• Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and peritraumatic dissociation .
• The role of support systems in managing depression.
• The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in treating depression.
• The benefits and drawbacks of online therapy for depression.
• The role of spirituality in managing depression.
• Depression among minority groups .
• The benefits and drawbacks of residential treatment for severe depression.
• What is the relationship between childhood trauma and adult depression?
• How effective is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for treatment-resistant depression?
• The benefits and drawbacks of art therapy for depression.
• Mood disorder: depression and bipolar .
• The impact of social media on depression rates.
• The effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) in treating depression.
• Depression in older people .
• The impact of seasonal changes on depression rates and treatment options.
• The impact of depression on daily life and relationships, and strategies for coping with the condition.
• The stigma around depression and the importance of seeking help.

Persuasive Speech Topics about Depression

• How important is it to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression ?
• How do you support a loved one who is struggling with depression?
• The importance of mental health education in schools to prevent and manage depression.
• Social media: the rise of depression and anxiety .
• Is there a need to increase funding for mental health research to develop better treatments for depression?
• Addressing depression in minority communities: overcoming barriers and disparities.
• The benefits of including alternative therapies , such as yoga and meditation, in depression treatment plans.
• Challenging media portrayals of depression: promoting accurate representations.
• Two sides of depression disease .
• How social media affects mental health: the need for responsible use to prevent depression.
• The importance of early intervention: addressing depression in schools and colleges.
• The benefits of seeking professional help for depression.
• There is a need for better access to mental health care, including therapy and medication, for those suffering from depression.
• Depression in adolescents and suitable interventions .
• How do you manage depression while in college or university?
• The role of family and friends in supporting loved ones with depression and encouraging them to seek help.
• The benefits of mindfulness and meditation for depression.
• The link between sleep and depression, and how to improve sleep habits.
• How do you manage depression while working a high-stress job?
• Approaches to treating depression .
• How do you manage depression during pregnancy and postpartum?
• The importance of prioritizing employee mental health and providing resources for managing depression in the workplace.
• How should you manage depression while caring for a loved one with a chronic illness?
• How to manage depression while dealing with infertility or pregnancy loss.
• Andrew Solomon: why we can’t talk about depression .
• Destigmatizing depression: promoting mental health awareness and understanding.
• Raising funds for depression research: investing in mental health advances.
• The power of peer support: establishing peer-led programs for depression.
• Accessible mental health services: ensuring treatment for all affected by depression.
• Evidence-based screening for depression in acute care .
• The benefits of journaling for mental health: putting your thoughts on paper to heal.
• The power of positivity: changing your mindset to fight depression .
• The healing power of gratitude in fighting depression.
• The connection between diet and depression: eating well can improve your mood.
• Teen depression and suicide in Soto’s The Afterlife .
• The benefits of therapy for depression: finding professional help to heal.
• The importance of setting realistic expectations when living with depression.

📝 How to Write about Depression: Essay Structure

We’ve prepared some tips and examples to help you structure your essay and communicate your ideas.

Essay about Depression: Introduction

An introduction is the first paragraph of an essay. It plays a crucial role in engaging the reader, offering the context, and presenting the central theme.

A good introduction typically consists of 3 components:

• Hook. The hook captures readers’ attention and encourages them to continue reading.
• Background information. Background information provides context for the essay.
• Thesis statement. A thesis statement expresses the essay’s primary idea or central argument.

Hook : Depression is a widespread mental illness affecting millions worldwide.

Background information : Depression affects your emotions, thoughts, and behavior. If you suffer from depression, engaging in everyday tasks might become arduous, and life may appear devoid of purpose or joy.

Depression Essay Thesis Statement

A good thesis statement serves as an essay’s road map. It expresses the author’s point of view on the issue in 1 or 2 sentences and presents the main argument.

Thesis statement : The stigma surrounding depression and other mental health conditions can discourage people from seeking help, only worsening their symptoms.

Essays on Depression: Body Paragraphs

The main body of the essay is where you present your arguments. An essay paragraph includes the following:

• a topic sentence,
• evidence to back up your claim,
• explanation of why the point is essential to the argument;
• a link to the next paragraph.

Topic sentence : Depression is a complex disorder that requires a personalized treatment approach, comprising both medication and therapy.

Evidence : Medication can be prescribed by a healthcare provider or a psychiatrist to relieve the symptoms. Additionally, practical strategies for managing depression encompass building a support system, setting achievable goals, and practicing self-care.

Depression Essay: Conclusion

The conclusion is the last part of your essay. It helps you leave a favorable impression on the reader.

The perfect conclusion includes 3 elements:

• Rephrased thesis statement.
• Summary of the main points.
• Final opinion on the topic.

Rephrased thesis: In conclusion, overcoming depression is challenging because it involves a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and environmental factors that affect an individual’s mental well-being.

Summary: Untreated depression heightens the risk of engaging in harmful behaviors such as substance abuse and can also result in negative thought patterns, diminished self-esteem, and distorted perceptions of reality.

We hope you’ve found our article helpful and learned some new information. If so, feel free to share it with your friends. You can also try our free online topic generator !

• Pain, anxiety, and depression – Harvard Health | Harvard Health Publishing
• Depression-related increases and decreases in appetite reveal dissociable patterns of aberrant activity in reward and interoceptive neurocircuitry – PMC | National Library of Medicine
• How to Get Treatment for Postpartum Depression – The New York Times
• What Is Background Information and What Purpose Does It Serve? | Indeed.com
• Thesis | Harvard College Writing Center
• Topic Sentences: How Do You Write a Great One? | Grammarly Blog

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Home / Essay Samples / Health / Mental Health / Depression

Depression Essay Examples

Essays on depression serve as a platform for raising awareness, fostering understanding, and promoting open dialogue about this complex mental health issue. Through thoughtful analysis, personal stories, and research-based insights, these essays play a crucial role in destigmatizing depression, providing support, and encouraging individuals to seek help and treatment.

The Purpose and Significance of Essays on Depression One of the primary goals of essays on depression is to raise awareness about the prevalence, symptoms, and impact of this mental health condition. By shedding light on the realities of depression, these essays contribute to breaking down misconceptions and educating the public. Depression often carries a significant social stigma that can prevent individuals from seeking help. Depression essay topics aim to reduce this stigma by fostering empathy and understanding. By sharing personal stories and scientific insights, these essays challenge harmful stereotypes and encourage compassion. For individuals struggling with depression, reading essays on the topic can provide a sense of validation and support. These essays let individuals know that they are not alone in their experiences and that help is available. They offer a safe space for readers to relate to others’ journeys. Educating and Empowering Essays on depression provide valuable educational information about the causes, risk factors, and available treatments. By arming readers with knowledge, these essays empower individuals to recognize the signs of depression, seek help, and support loved ones who may be struggling. Depression essay examples serve a significant purpose in raising awareness, reducing stigma, and fostering understanding about a topic that affects countless individuals. By sharing personal experiences, scientific insights, and messages of hope, these essays contribute to a more compassionate and informed society, while also offering support and resources to those in need.

Short Essay About Depression: Types and Causes

Unfortunately, there is small amout of essays about depression, but I want to mention that if you have a depression, then you may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life is not worth living. More than just a...

Overcoming Depression: a Persuasive Case for Action

“Kendrea's cry The story of 6-year-old Kendrea Johnson from Minnesota, who hung herself with a jump rope 2 days after Christmas, was heart stopping”. People around the clock are suffering from depression all over, and we need to come together and solve this issue affecting...

Overcoming Depression and Anxiety: Coping Strategies

Depression… The extreme feeling of sadness, unexcitment or even thinking about death. What about anxiety? Anxiety is another form of disorder where you will feel restlessness, having panic attacks and overthinking about a very small thing. Because of the lockdown, depression and anxiety has been...

Exploring the Depths of Depression: an Argumentative View

You’ve lost connections with friends and family, you can’t bring yourself to go outside, it feels like the world is against you. This is the life of having depression, a horrible cycle of low moods, sadness and an overall feeling of dejectedness. I chose to...

Depression as a Complex Disorder: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

This essay about depression with introduction body and conclusion discusses depression, a complex mental health disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It covers the symptoms, causes, and treatment of depression. Depression is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and emptiness, and it can...

Relationship Between Social Media and Depression

In today's interconnected world, social media platforms have become integral parts of our lives. These platforms offer a plethora of opportunities for communication, sharing, and self-expression. However, beneath the glossy façade of curated feeds and engaging content lies a darker reality – the potential link...

Symptoms, Causes, and Ways to Cope with Postpartum Depression

It’s not easy being a parent; and for most mothers, it’s also not easy to give birth and immediately be okay after carrying a child in the womb for nine months and giving birth. Instead of feeling the joy and excitement of being a new...

Essay on Sun and Its Healing Powers

Researchers claim that the sun is the closest star to earth the only planet believed to be lived by the living-beings. Science explains that the earth is a planet and it revolves around the sun directing to a sequence of seasonal changes. Furthermore science makes...

Depression in Lady Lazarus and Daddy

Depression can be really be a tough battle, especially having to go to war with everyday of your life. In both poems “Daddy”, and “ Lady Lazarus”, by Sylvia Plath, she illustrates her battle with depression. In “Daddy”, Plath feels like she is living in...

Overview of Three Types of Group Interventions for Depression

Major depressive disorder affects many different types of people. Depression disorder is a severe mental disorder that can affect any age, gender, ethnicity, and region. In this essay three different types of group interventions will be discussed and the intervention effectiveness will be evaluated by...

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About Depression

Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It may be described as feelings of sadness, loss, or anger that interfere with a person's everyday activities.

The term depression was derived from the Latin verb deprimere, "to press down". From the 14th century, "to depress" meant to subjugate or to bring down in spirits. It was used in 1665 in English author Richard Baker's Chronicle to refer to someone having "a great depression of spirit", and by English author Samuel Johnson in a similar sense in 1753.

Life events, Personality, Alcoholism, Bullying, Medical treatments, Substance-induced, Non-psychiatric illnesses, Psychiatric syndromes, Historical legacy

Low mood, aversion to activity, loss of interest, feeling worthless or guilty, difficulty thinking and concentrating, changes in appetite, trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, thoughts of death or suicide.

Most common ways of depression treatment are: medication, psychotherapy, Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), self-help and coping.

Depression is a mental state of low mood and aversion to activity, which affects more than 280 million people of all ages (about 3.5% of the global population) Classified medically as a mental and behavioral disorder, the experience of depression affects a person's thoughts, behavior, motivation, feelings, and sense of well-being. Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. More women are affected by depression than men. Depression can lead to suicide.

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