Depression generally occurs when a person is in their late 20s, however, it can develop at any age, according to the Mayo Clinic. While twice as many women than men receive a diagnosis for this illness, this may only be because women tend to seek treatment. The specific cause of depression is not known, however, certain risk factors are.
Family History
A biological connection is one risk factor for developing depression. This is especially true for manic-depression as Arthur Schoenstadt, MD, of eMedTV explains. The genetic makeup of those with depression differs from those who do not suffer from this illness. In some cases, those with this genetic abnormality never develop depression. The difference lies in the number of factors a person has, including stress or personality traits.
Stress
Stress responsible for depression may be sudden or ongoing. Examples of sudden stress include divorce, a new job or the death of someone close to you. Sources of ongoing, or chronic stress, include single parenting, chronic illness or caring for a sick parent.
Gender
Being a woman increases the risk of suffering from depression. Women experience a number of hormonal changes throughout their lives for various reasons, including pregnancy, postpartum, menstrual cycles, perimenopause and menopause. These hormonal changes increases a woman's susceptibility to depression.
Alcoholism
Alcoholism and depression often accompany one another in many patients, according to Josepha Cheong, MD, Michael Herkov, PhD, and Wayne Goodman, MD, of PsychCentral. Alcohol is a depressant that can seriously complicate the treatment of depression. Families with a history of alcoholism also face a greater risk of developing this illness.
Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions are also responsible for depression. These include thyroid problems, cancer, heart disease and hormonal imbalances. While these conditions can cause depression, it can also worsen a person's health.
