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People who are more unhappy than usual often say that they are “depressed”. In most cases, however, they are describing a normal mood change in response to sad events or fatigue. In psychopathology, however, depression does not refer to a normal mood, but to a dysfunctional clinical
Syndrome.
An ordinary, short-lived depressed mood can often be beneficial, in that it allows a person to explore themselves, their values and the situation. People may emerge from a normal depressed mood with a sense of greater strength, clarity and resolve (Comer, 1995). Clinical depression, on the other hand is so severe and long lasting that it can seriously debilitate a person and may even intensify over a period of time. Depressed patients may find the simplest of tasks so difficult that they cannot complete them. Some people with depression even try to end their lives.
Depressing Statistics
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20% - 26% of women and 8% - 12% of men develop depression at some point in their lives 78% will experience more than one episode over the next 10 years; only 22% remain continuously well. Many will show a tendency over time for episodes to become more frequent and closer together
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The average duration of Major Depression is 8 - 12 months. Half of people therefore go on being depressed for longer than this time.10% - 15% develop persistent, chronic, depression
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At any given time about 5% to 9% of women and 2% to 3% of men are suffering from depression
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10% of those attending GPs have depression; 5% have Major Depression
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There are 300,000 GPs in the UK each of whom will see 250 patients with depression each year.
13% of mothers develop postnatal depression
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Depression is consistently associated with increased morbidity and mortality from a range of physical illnesses (particularly cardiovascular)
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8%-15% of people with depressive disorders in contact with psychiatric services eventually commit suicide. The rate amongst community depressives is 3%.
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Between 3000 and 7000 people each year take their lives whilst suffering from depression.
(Blacker, 2000)
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Diagnostic Criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (DSM IV)
To be diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder a person must have had at least one
depressive episode, but have no symptoms of mania or hypomania.
Theories of Depression
