Depression can also be referred to as depressive disorder. It is a prevalent mental illness, and it’s characterised by a protracted period of sadness, loss of pleasure, or lack of interest in activities.
According to the World Health Organization (2023), globally, an estimate of 3.8 percent of people suffer from depression. Also, Nigeria being the most populated country in Africa bagged an estimated seven million depressed Nigerians in 2015.
Furthermore, a study on depression among immigrants in Canada indicated a high percentage of 51.7% of the participants who screened positive for depression.
Causes of Depression
Several incidents can trigger depression in people. It includes; Mental, physical or sexual abuse, severe losses, medications and certain medical conditions.
Furthermore, in Nigeria and other African countries, certain events or conditions of the country could cause depression. In a published article in 2023 by Punch newspaper, it was acknowledged that with the economic downturn in Nigeria, depression is bound to be high as people are finding it difficult to cope with the hardship.
Also, Nigerian immigrants are at risk of depression due to acculturative stress, length of stay (the longer Nigerians stay in a foreign, they are bound to be at risk of depression) lack of social support, and discrimination.
Who gets depression?
Depression can happen to anyone especially those that are faced with traumatic experiences or loss, however, WHO indicated that depression is more common among women than men.
Types of Depression
There are various forms of depression. However, according to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) Depression can be grouped into;
- Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder: this occurs in children and adolescents when they display persistent irritability and anger outbursts.
- Major depressive disorder: When major depressive disorder is diagnosed, it indicates that you have had symptoms including insomnia, appetite changes, and loss of interest in activities in addition to feeling depressed, hopeless, or worthless on most days for at least two weeks.
- Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia): this depression is not as severe as major depressive disorder. However, it’s a moderate depression that could last up to 2 years.
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: this form of depression is associated with the cause which is menstruation. Hence, it is common only in females that have started menstruating. This form of disorder comes with extreme irritability, anxiety or depression before your period, and can be severe enough to disrupt people’s lives. But, symptoms could improve some days after your period starts.
- Depressive disorder due to another medical condition: here, certain medical conditions such as heart disease, Parkinson’s disease or hypothyroidism can instigate changes in the body which could enable depression in a person.
Furthermore, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) can include; Seasonal Affective Disorder which is a type of depression that occurs due to seasonal changes. Also, Prenatal and postpartum depression is a form of MDD, and as the name implies it is a type of depression that occurs during pregnancy and after childbirth respectively. Symptoms can include extreme cases of sadness, fatigue and changes in sleeping and eating. Lastly, Atypical depression is a form of MDD that makes you experience a temporal boost in mood in response to positive occasions.
Symptoms of Depression
There are several symptoms of depression, and some are based on the type or cause of that depression.
It includes;
- Suffering from bodily problems such as headaches, stomachaches, back pains, and sexual dysfunction.
- Consistently feeling anxious, restless, and agitated.
- Thoughts of suicide, and suicidal attempts- this is mostly associated with MDD.
- Trouble sleeping, excessive sleeping or lack of sleep
- Loss of appetite reduced appetite or increased cravings for food, leading to Weight loss or weight gain, respectively.
- Feelings of sadness, hopelessness. In children, it could be irritability, frequent anger outbursts, and feelings of frustration.
- Feeling fatigue and difficulty accomplishing little tasks.
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that used to incite those feelings.
- Feelings of excessive guilt or low self-worth
- Poor concentration.
How is Depression Diagnosed?
If one has depression five symptoms that have persisted for up to two weeks, the patient may be at risk of depression.
In addition, Depression is diagnosed through detailed examination of the patient’s symptoms including a crosscheck of their mental health and medical history. This gives insight into the type of depression a patient is suffering.
Management and Treatment
Depression can be treated through;
- Psychotherapy: This is a talk therapy where the therapists help you identify the cause of your depression and encourage a change in behaviour, emotions, thoughts or activities that caused it.
- Medication: here, anti-depressants are prescribed to you to help in alleviating depression
- Brain Stimulation therapy: used especially on severe depression and psychosis
- Complementary medicine includes acupuncture, hypnosis
At Bestherapy we offer both psychotherapy and medication. When talk therapy is done and if the situation requires anti-depressants, the right anti-depressant will be prescribed for you.
Lastly, Bestherapy is committed to identifying the specific cause and type of depression you are suffering to treat it effectively!
References
Salik, I., Marwaha, R.(2022) Electroconvulsive Therapy. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538266/
Chand, S., Arif, H.(2023) Depression. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430847/
Bains, N., Abdijadid, S.(2023) Major Depressive Disorder. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559078/
World Health Organization (2023). Depressive Disorder (Depression). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression#:~:text=Overview,and%20feelings%20about%20everyday%20life. Accessed on 14th February 2024.
Aluh, D., Aigbogun, O., and Anyachebelu, O. (2023). Depression Among Immigrant Nigerians in Canada. Journal of Immigrant and MinorityHealth. 25(2):315-323. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36271302/