MAJOR DEPRESSION

WHAT IS DEPRESSION

• Fatigue, insomnia, suicidal thoughts, significant weight loss, loss of interest.
• Physical exam to determine if there is an internal source of the sadness.
• Survey completed by patient can determine external cause.
• 6.7% of Americans over age 18

TREATMENTS

• Without treatment, 10-15% of people commit suicide
• Antidressant medication
• Electroconvulsive therapy
• Psychotherapy

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HOW IT AFFECTS FAMILY

• Disrupts and divides family life
• Can also be a major source of support
• Recognizes manic symptoms twice as often

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HOW GENES PLAY A ROLE

• Scientist look at patterns in families to estimate their "heritability"
• 50% could be genetic; 50% unrelated
• Environmental can also cause major depression (severe childhood, sexual abuse, losing a loved one
• Parents with depression can multiply the chance of depression by two
• Genetic Components - depressive symptoms to life at 26 were stronger in subjects with short allele homozygotes; 33% with short allele suffered 4 or more stressful events

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WHAT GOES WRONG

• An overactive preipheral nervous system
• Can contribute to depression
• Molecules- serotonin,dopamine, and norepinphrine
• Can also contribute to depression

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