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Depression: A Silent Epidemic
Maham Aslam, Kiran Chaudhry, Ali Hamza, Qashqai-tul-Ain.
Department of Psychology, Islamia University Bahawalpur
PSY: Advance Seminar
Mam Neelam Ruhma
January 15, 20201
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Depression
Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of
interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel,
think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have
trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn't worth
living. You can't simply "snap out" of Depression. Depression may require long-term treatment.
But don't get discouraged. Most people with depression feel better with medication,
psychotherapy or both. Depression is a drag. Everybody who has it encounters it in an
unexpected way, yet we as a whole concur that it sucks. Now and again, be that as it may, we
think about whether individuals who don't have it understand – like truly genuinely understand –
exactly how overwhelmingly difficult it is. Acknowledge treatment is the key Depression is a
therapeutic condition requiring medicinal care. As a relative or friend, you can tune in to the
person and give your help, yet that will not be sufficient. Social Isolation is one of the top causes
of suicide. It is important socially, emotionally, and psychologically to have friends and family
to count on. Without them life seems impossible. Many wonder what the causes of this suicide
epidemic are. Depression is basically a kind of heterogeneous illness which has multifactorial
causes. The main perspective of depression is biopsychosocial. There are several kinds of
episodes of depression which are given treatment fairly and effectively according to the severity
of the causes of depression.
Literature review
Depression a mental disorder, Concept of depression, depression and its causes,
Understanding problem of depression among individuals, depression, its causes, and symptoms
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among individuals, etc. All the literatures used for the purpose of review are quite recent. The
literatures used under the following literature review are published between 2000 and 2011.
1. According to Beck and Alford (2009), depression is considered as a clinical syndrome.
Depression is considered as an exaggeration of the mood which is experienced by a
normal person. (Depression: A treatable disease 2000).
2. Horvitz (2002) mentions that in most of the situations, depression and chronic conditions
go hand in hand. It can be said that depression is quite a common as well as dangerous
complication that is seen in every chronic condition.
3. Robbins (2008) states that it is necessary to recognize symptoms of the depression at
initial stages themselves as nine characteristic symptoms of depression are depressed
mood, loss or gain of weight, lack of interest in usual day-to-day activities, excessive
sleep or insomnia, feeling of worthlessness, fatigue, less concentration or indecisiveness,
thoughts of suicide, and feeling of retardation.
4. According to Thomas G. Planet (2006), depression is a kind of illness which is basically
heterogeneous in nature. The explanatory mechanism of depression is very much critical
to be understood as it has different subtypes (Planet 2006).
5. According to Karen L. Swartz (2007), depression mainly arises from anxiety, sadness,
grief and elation. Depression is mainly caused as a result of such kinds of emotions.
Depression is not exactly mood disorder but have some sort of similarity with the mood
disorder.
6. Power and Orto (2004) mentions that the depression is an anger turned inward and is
associated with severe disability and illness. Most people when become aware of the
responses to their illness or disability, do not actually experience the clinical depression.
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7. According to Eric et al (2003), depression is the most critical chronic condition for which
the claimants have been increasing day by day. There are several reasons which are
increasing prevalence rates of major depression. It has been seen that with the increase of
the age people becomes more depressed
8. Kantor (2007) discusses the problem of depression saying that depression has become a
modern disease as life styles are becoming more demanding, requires more money, and
needs more time. This has brought limits to people’s mind, emotions and life. It, thus,
brings in emotional, physical and mental suffering to adults and young ones. Teenagers
of today’s society are at high risk of experiencing depression as society has set certain
standards for them which are greater, that leads to building up of stressful factors.
Objectives
The study has the following research objectives:
1. To explain the effects of depression in human’s life
2. To identify the causes and effects of depression
3. To point out the rate of depression in emerging adults
4. To show the treatment of depression.
Significance
The significance of this research is to create an awareness among people about the causes
and effects of depression and how to overcome it by treatment. It explains that “If a person is
concerned that they are depressed, then he or she should make an appointment to speak with a
primary-care provider or a behavioral-health professional for an assessment. Possible
interventions include talk therapy and medications to treat symptoms associated with depression.
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Conclusion
Depression affects a person mentally, emotionally, socially, and physically. Basically
everything that an adult need to take care of since they’re constantly going through transitions in
life. An adults mental state by self-criticism affects ourselves poorly, their emotions become
twisted, they may feel socially rejected at times, and their physique may not be up to par. Adults
need to stop allowing depression take control of their lives and take the wheel. Once you become
depressed and allow it to clog up your mind, you become mentally, emotionally, socially, and
physically unstable. Depression will make you think you’re not good enough and you will feed
into that.
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References
1. Plante, T. G. 2006. Mental Disorders of the New Millennium. Greenwood Publishing
Group.
2. Swartz, K. L. 2007. Depression and Anxiety. Johns Hopkins Health.
3. Finkelstein, E. A., Bray, J. W., Chen, H., Larson, M. J., Miller, K., Tompkins, C. Keme,
A., and Manderscheid, R. 2003. Prevalence and Costs of Major Depression Among Elderly
Claimants With Diabetes. Diabetes Care 26(2), pp. 415-420.
4. Beck, A. T. and Alford, B. A. 2009. Depression: causes and treatments. 2nd ed. University
of Pennsylvania Press.
5. Robbins, P.R. 2008. Understanding Depression. McFarland.
6. Perry, B. L., Pescosolido, B. A., Martin, J. K., McLeod, J.D. and Jensen, P. S. 2007.
Comparison of Public Attributions, Attitudes, and Stigma in Regard to Depression among
Children and Adults. American Psychiatric Association 58(5), pp. 632-635.
7. Power, P.W. and Orto, A.E.D. 2004. Families living with chronic illness and disability:
interventions, challenges, and opportunities. Springer Publishing Company.
8. Depression:
A
treatable
disease.
2000.
Online.
Available
at:
http://www.agingsociety.org/agingsociety/pdf/depression.pdf [Accessed on: 23 September
2011].
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