Risk Factors for Depression

Risk factors discussion:

Depression in Children and Adolescents A Fact Sheet for Physicians: NIMH (Excerpt)

In childhood, boys and girls appear to be at equal risk for depressive disorders; but during adolescence, girls are twice as likely as boys to develop depression.⁴ Children who develop major depression are more likely to have a family history of the disorder, often a parent who experienced depression at an early age, than patients with adolescent- or adult-onset depression.²¹ Adolescents with depression are also likely to have a family history of depression, though the correlation is not as high as it is for children.

Other risk factors include:

• Stress ²²
• Cigarette smoking ²²
• A loss of a parent or loved one ²³
• Break-up of a romantic relationship ²⁴
• Attentional, conduct or learning disorders ²⁵
• Chronic illnesses, such as diabetes ⁸
• Abuse or neglect ²⁶
• Other trauma, including natural disasters ²⁷

Depression: NIMH (Excerpt)

People who have low self-esteem, who consistently view themselves and the world with pessimism or who are readily overwhelmed by stress, are prone to depression. Whether this represents a psychological predisposition or an early form of the illness is not clear. (Source: excerpt from Depression: NIMH)

Depression: NIMH (Excerpt)

Many hormonal factors may contribute to the increased rate of depression in women-particularly such factors as menstrual cycle changes, pregnancy, miscarriage, postpartum period, pre-menopause, and menopause. Many women also face additional stresses such as responsibilities both at work and home, single parenthood, and caring for children and for aging parents. (Source: excerpt from Depression: NIMH)

Depression Research: NIMH (Excerpt)

Psychosocial and environmental stressors are known risk factors for depression. NIMH research has shown that stress in the form of loss, especially death of close family members or friends, can trigger depression in vulnerable individuals. (Source: excerpt from Depression Research: NIMH)

If You're Over 65 and Feeling Depressed Treatment Brings New Hope: NIMH (Excerpt)

Certain personalities--people with low self-esteem or who are very dependent on others--seem to be vulnerable to depression. (Source: excerpt from If You're Over 65 and Feeling Depressed Treatment Brings New Hope: NIMH)

Women Hold Up Half the Sky: NIMH (Excerpt)

The chronic stress often associated with the caregiving role can contribute to mental health problems; indeed, caregivers are much more likely to suffer from depression than the average person. ²⁸ Since women in general are at greater risk for depression than men, female caregivers of people with AD may be particularly vulnerable to depression. (Source: excerpt from Women Hold Up Half the Sky: NIMH)

Risks factors for Depression: medical news summaries:

The following medical news items are relevant to risk factors for Depression:

• Abortion very real risk for depression
• Acne medication may have contributed to suicide
• ADHD medication may be linked to adult depression
• Antidepressant prescriptions should not be the first line of defense in treating depression
• Antidepressant use in pregnant mothers
• Breast cancer therapy can cause ongoing lethargy
• Cancer and mental health compete
• Candida influenced by obesity and depression
• Cardiovascular disease and depression link analysed
• Certain factors can increase the risk of postpartum depression
• Changing antidepressants may prevent sexual dysfunction side effects
• College Students suffer sleep deprivation
• Depressed pregnant women are more likely to have low birth weight babies
• Depression and anxiety following birth may be reduced by iron supplementation
• Depression and dependence
• Depression and sleep apnea link
• Depression common in elderly
• Depression deadly in heart disease
• Depression frequently associated with heart failure
• Depression in adolescents: normal part of growing up
• Depression incidence not influenced by abortion
• Depression linked to childhood bullying
• Depression may be triggered by overactive brain
• Depression reduces likelihood of successful treatment of hepatitis C
• Doubts over the real cause of depression
• Drug usage increasing among Americans and so is the risk of serious side effects
• Ecstasy overuse medically unsafe
• Effect of depression amplifies through generations
• Elderly depression and insomnia
• Erectile dysfunction is often a symptom of other bigger problems
• Erectile problems treatment options
• Familial bipolar disorder traits dictate disease presentation
• FDA finally acknowledges suicide risk associated with antidepressant use in children
• Heart disease link to impotence
• High proportion of American adolescents with depression
• Impending sense of doom for heart victims
• Juvenile bipolar still misunderstood
• Lawyers disproportionately suffer from stress, depression and alcohol abuse
• Meditation improves blood pressure even in children
• Mental disorders can be detected in young children
• Mirtazapine can greatly reduced depression rates in stroke patients
• More available treatments for dementia
• Obesity is associated with an increased risk of many conditions
• Pain more than just a sensation
• Polypharmacy in the elderly
• Pschological disorder incidence higher in diabetics
• Reckless teen behavior and depression link
• Research finds inappropriate treatment of adolescent depression
• Risk factors for postnatal depression defined
• Self diagnose depression
• Stroke sufferers benefit from decrease in blood pressure
• Subsequent mental illness greater risk for girls with ADHD
• More news »

About risk factors:

Risk factors for Depression are factors that do not seem to be a direct cause of the disease, but seem to be associated in some way. Having a risk factor for Depression makes the chances of getting a condition higher but does not always lead to Depression. Also, the absence of any risk factors or having a protective factor does not necessarily guard you against getting Depression. For general information and a list of risk factors, see the risk center.

 » Next page: Symptoms of Depression

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