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- What is depression?
- Symptoms of depression
- Causes of depression
- Prevention of depression
- Risk factors for depression
- Complications of depression
- When to see a doctor about depression
- Diagnosis of depression
- Conventional treatment of depression
- Alternative/complementary treatment of depression
- Living with depression
- Caring for someone with depression
The cause of depression is not known. It is thought to be due to a combination of a number of factors:
Biochemical
The neurotransmitters in the brain control mood, thinking, sleep, appetite and behaviour and if these neurotransmitters become unbalanced, depression can be the result. The main neurotransmitters affected are: serotonin, dopamine, GABA, but there are many others which play a part in the brain's function.
Environmental
The most common reason for depression is experiencing a stressful life event, such as the loss of a loved one, divorce, break-up, losing a job, trauma. Even positive events can cause depression, if they are significant enough - getting married, buying a home for the first time, having a baby, promotion or getting a huge pay rise.
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Genetic
Researchers have determined that some types of depression tends to run in families, which suggests that in these people, there is a genetic link which has been a factor in causing the depression, but this genetic link is not the sole factor.
Research into the genetic cause of depression suggests that people who have certain genes that are a risk factor for depression will develop it, if there are environmental or other factors which trigger the genes to cause depression to start.
Psychological
Some people seem to have a more negative or pessimistic view on life, so when stressful events occur, this may trigger depression, from a mild case, to a more severe one.
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