The Etiological Factors of the Depression Disease - Essay Example

Depression is psychological which not only presents pathological sadness but is also accompanied by the inability to feel any sort of emotion be it bad or good (Beck & Alford, 2009). The disease is not only restricted to the mind but also has effects on the body. The definition of depression has been defined differently in different cultures and has been accompanied by extreme pain and headaches. The etiological factors of the disease are not well defined, however, there have been some researches linking depression to genetic and epigenetic factors (Beck & Alford, 2009).

According to surveys carried out in the United States, approximately 20% of the population has suffered or is suffering from depression (McHugh & Slavey, 2011). In addition, a large number of individuals have this disorder without knowing that they have a psychological problem. An individual’s sex also predisposes him or her to depression as women are three times more susceptible to depressive disorders than men. However, the impacts depression has on men are more severe, and depressed males are more likely to commit suicide than women.

Explains for the high prevalence of depression among women have been based on their hormonal difference to men, whilst males are more susceptible to committing suicide due to their societal roles (McHugh & Slavey, 2011). There have been different types of depression have been defined with major depression being the most severe. The symptoms that are associated with this type of depression include a defined phase of low mood. Individuals often mistake the emotion of being sad for depression; however, there is a clear distinction between the two factors.

Low mood is acute and is directly related to some external stimulus and can be alleviated by altering some lifestyle aspects. However, depression is more chronic and is accompanied by a constantly low move that alters an individual’s perception of life and may affect his or her daily routines. Depression is also expressed in different intensities and it can last for two years or more which is referred to as dysthymic depression. Individuals who suffer from this form of depression are often very resistant to treatment and are also likely to experience a period of major depression (Ellison-Wright & Bullmore, 2010).

These individuals do not constantly show major depressive signs but their presentations are also important. Depression is also a sign of different psychological disorders and an example of such a disease is Bipolar I and Bipolar II (Ellison-Wright & Bullmore, 2010). These two disorders are both accompanied by a depressive episode which is more significant in patients experiencing Bipolar II disorder. Individuals with this order often experience spontaneous mood swings hence their depressive episode is often a significant burden on their caregivers (Ellison-Wright & Bullmore, 2010).

Depression is the fastest-rising disorder in terms of pharmacological expenses. Presently, it is estimated to have a cost of approximately $40 billion (Fournier et al., 2010). Currently, it is only second to cancerous pathologies; however, it is expected to be the highest by the year 2020. However, there have been several conspiracy theories surrounding depression and its presentation by pharmaceutical companies. Several experts have accused these companies of misrepresenting bad moods as depression there resulting in increasing expenses (Fournier et al., 2010). There have been several factors attributed to the increase in the rates of depression.

One is the increase in the number of smokers and alcohol abusers as these drugs have been found to increase the occurrence of depression (Beck & Alford, 2009). Smoking has been found by several scientists to create a misbalance in the physiological neurochemical composition of an individual. As mentioned above, genetic factors also have a role in the pathogenesis of depression and they influence the neurochemical composition of an individual (Beck & Alford, 2009). Specifically, these genes decrease the number of neurotransmitters that are responsible for regulating moods and emotions.

Studies assessing the prevalence of depression among identical and fraternal twins showed that environmental factors also had a role in the expression of depression (Beck & Alford, 2009).