Research has identified several possible causes and risk factors, including genetics, seasonal changes and stress.
The causes of depressive disorders can be psycho-emotional, social factors, diseases of organs and systems.
Depression can be treated with antidepressants in combination with psychotherapy, and, if necessary, with other psychotropic drugs.
A lack of tryptophan, a precursor of serotonin (“the hormone of joy”), provokes a depressive state, and a deficiency of tyrosine or phenylalanine is fraught with severe mood swings.
During depression, brain functioning changes.
The balance of neurotransmitters and brain-derived neurotrophic factor is disrupted, and the state of synapses changes.
In people with chronic depression that begins in childhood or adolescence, some brain structures may even be smaller.
Characteristic symptoms (there may be only some of them, expressed with varying intensity) of depression are: low mood (sadness, melancholy, depression); negative thoughts about yourself (pronounced self-criticism, guilt), about the future (pessimism, loss of meaning, hopelessness).
Changes in appearance and appearance: People with depression often have characteristic changes in appearance and appearance.
They may look tired, have bloodshot eyes and a puffy face.
Pale skin, hair loss, eating disorders and weight loss can also be signs of depression.