 Mental illness in which a person experiences deep, unshakable sadness and diminished interest in nearly all activities.  Can dramatically impair a person’s ability to function in social situations, at school and/or work.  People with major depression often have feelings of despair, hopelessness, and worthlessness, as well as thoughts of committing suicide.

 Approximately 18.8 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year, have a depressive disorder.  Nearly twice as many women (12.0 percent) as men (6.6 percent) are affected by a depressive disorder each year. These figures translate to 12.4 million women and 6.4 million men in the U.S.  Though women are twice as likely to suffer from depression, men are three times more likely to attempt suicide.  Women between the ages of are most often affected by depression with a major cause of depression in women being the inability to express or handle Anger.

 Depressive disorders are appearing earlier in life with the average age of onset 50 years ago being 29 whereas recent statistics indicate it at just 14.5yrs in today's society.  Depressive disorders often co-occur with anxiety disorders and substance abuse.  A recent study sponsored by the World Health Organization and the World Bank found unipolar major depression to be the leading cause of disability in the United States.

 Biochemical factors:  Genetic Predisposition  Trauma and Stress:  Needs become excessive  Pessimistic Personality:  Low self-esteem/negative outlook  Physical Conditions:  Heart disease, cancer, etc. cause physical weakness and stress

 Despite its name, "atypical" depression is actually the most common subtype of depression, with up to 40% of the depressed population may be classified as having atypical depression.  Atypical depression tends to occur earlier in life than other forms of depression — usually beginning in teenage years.  Patients with atypical depression are more likely to suffer from other mental illnesses such as social phobia, avoidant personality disorder, or body dismorphic disorder.  Atypical depression is more common in females with nearly 70% of the atypical population being women.

 Up to 2.5 % of children in the United States suffer from depression.  In 1997, suicide was the leading cause of death of 10 to 24-year-olds. All too often suicide is the result of extended periods of depression.  An early diagnosis can help children in their emotional, social and behavioral development but can also be hard to detect or masked by other factors.  Doctors may be reluctant to put a label of mental illness on a young child.

 Major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and established market economies worldwide.  Major depressive disorder affects approximately 9.9 million American adults, or about 5.0 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year.  Nearly twice as many women (6.5 percent) as men (3.3 percent) suffer from major depressive disorder each year. These figures translate to 6.7 million women and 3.2 million men.  While major depressive disorder can develop at any age, the average age at onset is the mid-20s.

 In a given year, between 1 and 2 percent of people over age 65 living in the community, i.e., not living in nursing homes or other institutions, suffer from major depression and about 2 percent have dysthymia.  Recent NIMH studies show that 13 to 27 percent of older adults have subclinical depressions that do not meet the diagnostic criteria for major depression or dysthymia but are associated with increased risk of major depression, physical disability, medical illness, and high use of health services.  Suicide is more common among the elderly than in any other age group. In studies of older adults who committed suicide, nearly all had major depression, typically a first episode, though very few had a substance abuse disorder.  Suicide among white males aged 85 and older was nearly six times the national U.S. rate (65 per 100,000 compared with 11 per 100,000) in 1996, the most recent year for which statistics are available.

 Melancholic Depression, or 'depression with melancholic features' is a subtype of depression characterized by the inability to find pleasure in positive things combined with physical agitation, insomnia, or decreased appetite.  Approximately 10% of people with depression suffer from Melancholic Depression.

 Studies report prevalence rates from 5% to 25%, but methodological differences among the studies make the actual prevalence rate unclear.  Postpartum depression ranges in severity from mild to suicidal.  Postpartum depression (also postnatal depression) is a form of major depression which can affect women, and less frequently men, after childbirth.  Although up to 80% of postpartum women suffer from the 'Baby blues' (or maternity blues) which is merely a mild and transitory form of 'moodiness' where symptoms typically last from a few hours to several days, and include tearfulness, irritability, hypochondriasis, sleeplessness, impairment of concentration, isolation and headache. The maternity blues are not considered a postpartum depressive disorder.

 Diagnosing depression in children and teenagers is often difficult because early symptoms can be hard to detect or may be attributed to other causes. Children and adolescents are going through rapid, age-related physical and emotional changes that may mask and accurate diagnosis.  Up to 8.3 percent of adolescents in the United States suffer from depression.  Recent research has discovered that depression onset is occurring earlier in individuals born in more recent decades.  There is evidence that depression emerging early in life often persists, recurs, and continues into adulthood, and that early onset depression may predict more severe illness in adult life.

 In 2001, 30,622 people died by suicide in the U.S.  More than 90 percent of people who take their own lives have a diagnosable mental disorder, commonly a depressive disorder or a substance abuse disorder.  The highest suicide rates in the U.S. are found in white men over age 85.  In 2000, suicide was the 3rd leading cause of death among 15 to 24 year olds.  Four times as many men as women die by suicide; however, women attempt suicide 2-3 times as often as men.

 Constant feelings of sadness, irritability, or tension  Decreased interest or pleasure in usual activities or hobbies  Loss of energy, feeling tired despite lack of activity  A change in appetite with significant weight loss or weight gain  Change in sleeping patterns

 Restlessness or felling slowed down  Decreased ability to make decisions or concentrate  Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness or guilt  Thoughts of suicide or death

 Two types: Neurotransmitters and Hormones  Neurotransmitters are released by a neuron directly onto a recipient cell ▪ serotonin and norepinephrine  Hormones typically reach their target cell via the bloodstream ▪ In depressed individuals the only "chemical imbalance" often detected (by a blood test) is elevated cortisol, a hormone normally secreted during times of stress and, in non-depressed people, shortly after waking. This has led to two hypotheses: (1) that chronic stress causes depression and (2) that depressed people have an abnormal stress response.  Other chemicals: testosterone and estrogen (H) and dopamine (N)

 Acknowledge there is a problem  Recognize  Cause  Reason  What needs to be done  Take Action  Do things you previously enjoyed  Stay active  Watch your diet  Get Help

 As mentioned previously, depression can lead to other mental disorders and possibly suicide.  Approximately 50% of homeless people have a mental illness  Stress is a precursor to depression due to cortisol levels. If stress is not handled, it can lead to depression.