Was ist Depression? Schwere Depression und leichte Depression

Depression is a common mental disorder that affects around 5% of adults worldwide. The disturbance is evident through continuing sadness and lack of interest in activities that used to be happy. It is believed that depression is caused by a complex interaction of social, psychological and biological factors and can cause problems at school and at work. 

Depression is a complex illness that is still not properly understood by the largest psychologists, neurologists and psychiatrists of the world. 350 million people suffer from a serious depressive disorder and 60 million from a bipolar disorder. Apart from those who have not been diagnosed. These numbers underline how important it is to understand the different types of depression, from severe depression to persistent depressive disorders and to find the correct treatment. 

The plague of depression comes, and after continuing struggle it often goes back. But depression returns for half of the people! (Curry et al., 2011; Klein & Kotov, 2016). And in about 20 %, the disease is chronic (Klein, 2010).

Compared to earlier generations, depression occurs earlier and more often, with the highest rates in older teenagers and young adults.

Did you know that therapy often accelerates recovery, but some people also recover from depression without professional help? Some do this without future depression and with "optimal well -being"? (Rottenberg et al., 2019). A permanent recovery is more likely if: The first episode takes place later in life, the person experiences minimal physical and psychological stress and the most important thing: there is sufficient social support.

What does depression look like?

Symptoms of depression can include sadness, tear flow, feeling of emptying or hopelessness, outbursts of anger, irritability or frustration, loss of interest or joy, sleep disorders and appetite disorders as well as difficulties of concentration. The risk factors include certain personality traits such as low self -esteem and biological differences. Treatment of depression includes psychological treatment and medication, and prevention programs have shown that they can reduce depression.

One of the most frequently examined theories about the causes of depression is the serotonin hypothesis. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that occurs in the brain and is involved in the regulation of mood, fear and sleep. Low serotonin levels are often associated with depression. However, it is important to note that depression is a complex disease that can be attributed to several factors. Serotonin is only part of the puzzle and there are other factors such as genetic, environmentally and psychosocial factors that can play a role. A Article In nature molecular psychiatry brings new evidence. "In a systematic review of studies on serotonin levels in people with depression, there was no indication that depressive people had a lower serotonin level or abnormal serotonin activity compared to non -depressed people." More about it, in our Article. 

In Germany, around 5.3 million people suffer from depression every year, and around 17 percent of German adults will suffer from a persistent depressive disorder in the course of their lives. A study showed that 13.5% of 16- to 25-year-olds have a medium to severe symptoms of depression in Switzerland compared to 8.6% of the total population. 

Different types of depression

There are different types of depression, such as B. severe depression, persistent depressive disorder, slight depression or bipolar disorder. The treatment of these disorders can include cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, psychodynamic therapy, writing or conversation therapy, coaching, medication and other therapies such as electrical stamping therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation and vagus nerve stimulation. 

Serious depression is often characterized by symptoms of hopelessness, increased irritability, loss of joy, difficulties of concentration or sleep problems as well as suicidal thoughts or attempts. It can also cause sadness, loss of interest or joy in activities, feelings of worthlessness and pessimism as well as physical symptoms such as fatigue, disturbed sleep and headache.

Heavy or easy depression?

Temporary fluctuations are temporary emotional fluctuations that can occasionally contain depressive moods, while depression is a half -permanent state of hopelessness and tiredness, which does not deteriorate after at least two weeks. Heavy depression is characterized by greater psychiatric stress and poorer psychosocial function than slight depression. 

A slight depression, on the other hand, is also referred to as subclinical depression and is a mood disorder that does not meet all criteria for major depression, but has at least two depressive symptoms for a longer period of time. In contrast to severe depression, the symptoms of slight depression are less pronounced and can often be better hidden by those affected. Nevertheless, they too can severely affect daily life.

Symptoms of slight depression include a depressed mood, loss of interest, sleep disorders, exhaustion and increased irritability. People with a slight depression can often still take part in everyday life and do their work, but they find it difficult to feel joy in activities and they are often quickly exhausted.

conclusion

It is important to take depression seriously and to seek help. If you think you suffer from depression, you should contact a specialist in order to obtain precise diagnosis and treatment. 

Overall, it is important to be aware that depression is a common and serious disease that affects many people. However, it is also possible to treat depression and recover from them. By taking symptoms seriously, seeking help and receiving individual treatment, you can reduce the severity of depression and find joy in life again.

Sources

Written by Mara Schär

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