Depression

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Depression and heart disease

Depression and insomnia

Depression and the menstrual cycle

Depression in children

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Other common forms of depression include:

• Postpartum depression -- many women feel somewhat down after having a baby, but true postpartum depression is more severe and includes the symptoms of major depression.
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) -- depressive symptoms occur 1 week prior to menstruation and disappear after you menstruate.
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) -- occurs most often during the fall-winter season and disappears during the spring-summer season. It is most likely related to a lack of sunlight.

Depression may also alternate with mania (known as manic depression or bipolar disorder).

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Depression may be more common in women than men, although it is possible this is because women tend to seek help for it more. Depression is also especially common during the teen years.

Depression often runs in families. This may due to your genes (inherited), learned behavior, or both. Even if your genes make you more likely to develop depression, a stressful or unhappy life event usually triggers the onset of a depressive episode.

A number of factors can cause depression, including:

• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Stressful life events or situations, such as:
  • Divorce, including a parent's divorce
  • Death of a relative or friend
  • Illness in the family
  • Abuse or neglect
  • Job loss
  • Social isolation (common cause of depression in the elderly)
  • Breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend
  • Failing a class
• Medical conditions and treatments, such as:
  • Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
  • Certain types of cancer
  • Long-term pain
  • Sleeping problems
  • Steroid medications

Review Date: 03/31/2010
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and David B. Merrill, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).