DEPRESSION. Mental health. Psychology Research Paper.

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Mental health is a vital aspect of the overall health of an individual. However, it is one of the most neglected factors of health worldwide. One of the most widely recognized mental health issues is depression or major depressive disorder (MDD). It is a common disorder that seriously deteriorates the individual’s well-being by affecting one’s emotions, thinking, and actions (American Psychiatric Association). This paper shall discuss the statistics, signs and symptoms, and treatment regimen for depression
Depression affects 6.7% of adults annually, and one in six persons, or 16.6% of the world’s population, suffers in a lifetime. The World Health Organization supports these data by stating that 264 million people are affected by the disease, making it one of the most common illnesses often not recognized. Typically, the first symptoms appear in older teens and young adults. Suicide became the number two cause of death in ages fifteen to twenty-nine, where around 800,000 deaths are recorded annually (World Health Organization). Aside from these, it is known that women are more susceptible to incurring the disease, and approximately 1/3 of women suffer from it at some time in their life (American Psychiatric Association).
Depression is different from grief and mood fluctuation. Mood fluctuation is a response to an abrupt change in life or changing situations. The emotions and flawed thinking are short-lived, and the person’s mood can vary based on the situation. By contrast, depression lasts longer and can even extend permanently. It also has worse symptoms, thereby transforming into a severe health problem (World Health Organization). On the other hand, grief is a natural process that happens after losing a loved one. Often, people who grieve are described as being depressed. However, the feelings of sorrow are expected, and it goes away after some time. In grief, the sorrow is intermittently felt, and it is typically associated with positive memories of or with the person who died. In depression, the negative feelings persist for at least two weeks (American Psychiatric Association).
The risk factors for depression include the individuals’ genetic make-up, biochemical properties of the cells, personality, and environment. Genetically, depression has been observed in families. There is a 70%-chance of incurring the disease by one or both twins in a lifetime in identical twins. Biochemically, various people have a different amount of a particular hormone or molecule, which predisposes one to disease. The person’s character also plays a part in the development of depression. Those with low self-esteem can, without difficulty, become dumbfounded by stressful circumstances. Additionally, pessimistic individuals are predisposed to depression. Last, the environment contributes mostly to the development of depression. A person exposed to neglect, violence, abuse, or poverty becomes susceptible to depression (American Psychiatric Association).
Two significant types of depression include recurrent depressive disorder and bipolar affective disorder. The first one entails repeated episodes of low mood, loss of attentiveness and amusement,...