Depression

Depression Paper

PSY/240

Depression is a very serious mood disorder that affects many people. Depression can cause long lasting and severe psychological pain. People who suffer from depression undergo a series of emotions and physical strains such as profound sadness, anger, lack of energy, bodily pain and low self worth; they also lose interest in life. Depression can be unipolar or bipolar. Unipolar depression is characterized as depression without a history of mania. Mania is a state of euphoria where a person feels that they are on top of the world. Bipolar depression is characterized as intertwined episodes of depression and mania.
Unipolar depression can be caused by stress, a traumatic event in a person’s life like a loss of a loved one. Also, there are other factors that play a role in depression such as biochemical factors like an increased level of cortisol which is a stress hormone. Another biochemical factor can also be the absence of melatonin. “In addition there has been a link between a low level of norepinephrine and serotonin chemicals in the brains of people who suffer from depression. There is consideration that the endocrine system and hormones may play a role in the development of depression. Studies have also shown a link to genetic factors in the possibility of depression. Evidence shows that people are more likely to become depressed if relatives also have suffered from depression” (Stier, 2012).
Bipolar depression features an onset of major depression with episodes of mania. Some of the factors that cause bipolar depression can include genetic factors, neurochemical factors, and environmental factors as well. A person can suffer from bipolar depression because of an inherent gene from their parent or sibling. The neurochemical factors that contribute to bipolar depression are disturbances within the brain and neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine.   Environmental factors of bipolar depression include certain...