More than just a mental condition
Depressed people don’t simply have the blues. Instead, they have a chronic psychological condition that requires long-term treatment. The symptoms of depression can affect people of any age, typically manifesting as sadness and hopelessness. The causes aren’t exactly known but may be due to a variety of factors.
- Biological differences: May occur due to physical changes in the brain, as depressed patients have been documented as having altered brain physiology.
- Brain chemistry: Neurotransmitters responsible for sending signals to the brain may change, leading to mood changes and depressive symptoms. Brain chemicals are the point of focus for many anti-depressive pharmaceutical treatments.
- Hormones: Depression can occur alongside changes in hormonal balance, such as during pregnancy or thyroid problems.
- Inherited: A family history of depression is a risk factor. While it is unknown why this is exactly, researchers hypothesize that genes play a role.
It is estimated that about one-third of hospital patients face depression, which has a negative impact on their outcome.
A review of 20 studies found that 33 percent of hospital patients had symptoms of depression.
Depression affects our physical health
While depression is not a physical illness per say, it can manifest in physical ways. Patients with depression are less likely to take their medication and keep their recommended appointments after being discharged from the hospital. They’re also likely to engage in self-harm.
The researchers stress the importance of screening hospital patients for depression, as it is a key component that may inhibit overall health recovery.
“Upon admission to the hospital, patients are screened for all kinds of medical issues such as abnormalities in blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. Adding a screening for depression seizes a golden opportunity to initiate and maintain treatment,” study lead author Dr. Waguih William Ishak.