In younger children :
i) Major depression
 Sadness
 Irritability
 Hopelessness
 Worry

In adolescents and teens :
 Anxiety
 Anger
 Avoidance of social
interaction
In older adults :
 They may feel dissatisfied
with life in general.
 Helpless or worthless.
 Suicidal thinking or feelings.
Symptoms of
depression
Causes of Depression
i) Alcohol or drug abuse
ii) Certain medical
conditions, including
underactive thyroid, cancer, or
long-term pain.
iii) Certain medications such
as steroids.
iv) Sleeping problems
v) Stressful life events, such
as:
 Breaking up with a
boyfriend or girlfriend
 Failing a class
 Death or illness of someone
close to you
 Divorce
 Childhood abuse or neglect
 Job loss
 Social isolation (common in
the elderly)
 A combination of
symptoms that last for at
least two weeks in a row.
ii) Dysthymia
Depression is a common  Dysthymia is a less severe
mental disorder that but usually more long
presents with depressed
lasting type of depression
compared to major
mood, loss of interest or depression.
pleasure, feelings of guilt or iii) Bipolar disorder (manic
low self-worth, disturbed depression)
sleep or appetite, low  A group of mood disorders
energy, and poor that were formerly called
concentration. manic-depressive illness
or manic depression.
iv) Postpartum
depression(PPD)
Definition of
depression Types of
depression
Treatments for depression
Medications Psychotherapies
i) Selective serotonin reuptake i) Interpersonal therapists
inhibitors (SSRIs) are focus on the patient's disturbed
medications that increase the personal relationships that
amount of the neurochemical both cause and exacerbate the
serotonin in the brain. depression.
ii) Tricyclic antidepressants ii) Cognitive/behavioral
(TCAs) work mainly by therapists help patients
increasing the level of change the negative styles of
norepinephrine in the brain thinking and behaving that are
synapses, although they also often associated with
may affect serotonin levels. depression.
iii) Monoamine oxidase iii) Psychodynamic therapies
inhibitors (MAOIs) elevate the focus on resolving the patient's
levels of neurochemicals in the internal psychological conflicts
brain synapses by inhibiting that are typically thought to be
monoamine oxidase. rooted in childhood.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
i) In the ECT procedure, an electric current is passed through the
brain to produce controlled convulsions (seizures).
ii) ECT is useful for those who cannot take or have not responded to
a number of antidepressants, have severe depression, and/or are at
a high risk for suicide.
iii) Often highly effective, ECT relieves depression within one to two
weeks after beginning treatments in many people.
iv) ECT is not painful.