Depression

A depressive disorder is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. Some 20.9 million adults, suffer from a depressive illness in United States. Depression interferes with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy pleasurable activities.

Types of Depression

Depressive disorders differ based on the number of symptoms, severity, and persistence. Major depression [Page 179]is manifested by a combination of symptoms that interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. The symptoms of major depression are persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood; feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism; feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and helplessness; loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex; decreased energy, fatigue, or feeling “slowed down”; difficulty concentrating, remembering, and making decisions; insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping; appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain; thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts; restlessness and irritability; and persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain.

Depression exhibits a variety of symptoms; sufferers can experience either dramatic weight gain or weight loss.

Dysthymia

Dysthymia is a less severe type of depression. Dysthymic disorder affects approximately 1.5 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year (3.3 million).

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is also called manic-depressive illness. Bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million American adults, or about 2.6 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. Bipolar disorder is characterized by cycling mood changes: severe highs (mania) and lows (depression). Mania, left untreated, may worsen to a psychotic state.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a pattern of depression related to changes in seasons and a lack of exposure to sunlight. It may cause headaches, irritability, and a low energy level.

Causes of Depression

Bipolar disorder runs in families. The causes of depression may be due to stress, physical changes, and medical illnesses such as stroke, heart attack, cancer, Parkinson's disease, and hormonal disorders. A sick person is apathetic and unwilling to care for his or her physical needs, thus prolonging the recovery period. A combination of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors and change in life patterns involved in the onset of a depressive disorder. An increased or reduced appetite and unexplained weight gain or loss may also indicate depression.

Antidepressants and Obesity

Weight gain is a reported side effect of nearly to all antidepressant medications. Tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are more likely to be associated with weight gain than are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Improvement in appetite is associated with improved mood may result in increased weight. The antidepressant therapy with mirtazapine was associated with a significant increase in body weight, body fat mass, and leptin concentration. Venlafaxine (Effexor) has been shown to cause weight gain but not as severe as has been reported with the SSRIs paroxetine (Paxil), fuoxetine (Prozac), and sertraline (Zoloft). Mitrazapine (Remeron) has been associated with significant weight gain, possibly secondary to interactions with the histamine (H1) receptor. Trazadone (Desyrel) is an antidepressant with sedative properties that is frequently used as a sleep aid as well as treatment for depression. It appears [Page 180]to cause less weight gain than amitriptyline (Elavil®) but more than buproprion HCL (Wellbutrin®).

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