Am I Depressed?
Which symptoms need to be present, and for how long, for a diagnosis of depression? Answers to common questions about depression.
How can I tell if I'm depressed?
According to the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, for a person to be diagnosed with depression they must have experienced a depressed mood and unhappiness for at least two weeks. There is a loss of interest and of pleasure in activities that used to be enjoyable, known as anhedonia. Appetite and sleep patterns are disrupted and sexual desire decreases. A person with depression also has difficulty concentrating and low energy; they may hardly be able to lift a finger or get out of bed. Loss of self-confidence, thoughts of worthlessness and feelings of guilt are also among the symptoms. All of this may be accompanied by suicidal thoughts. One very important point is that the person experiences a loss of functioning in their life.
Is depression limited to a certain age?
Depression is a psychological disorder that can occur at any age. It can be seen in childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age.
How common is depression?
Looking at lifetime prevalence, 3–12% of men and 10–26% of women experience depression at some point in their lives. Depression is therefore almost twice as common in women as in men. This difference is independent of ethnic background and socio-economic status. In children we can't speak of a meaningful gender difference; depression occurs at a similar rate in girls and boys.
Why is depression more common in women?
It is more accurate to explain this with several factors. First of all, we can point to hormonal differences between women and men and to gender roles. Looking at traditional roles, it is striking that men tend to engage in various forms of acting out, such as drinking alcohol. Men are observed to express their sadness outwardly as anger. In the traditional female role, by contrast, it is considered normal, and sometimes even expected, for women to be sad. In this situation women may experience the same stressor more intensely. Gender roles thus allow women to show their emotions and communicate, and in this way to reach support. For men, however, this would be seen as weakness, so behaviours such as alcohol and substance misuse and fits of anger appear instead. When we add that women have responsibilities as homemakers, wives and mothers on top of their working lives, their stress levels are seen to rise. And considering that women are also more affected by physical and sexual abuse, it becomes clear that many biological, psychological and social factors cause depression to be more common in women.
How does the rate of depression differ by gender and marital status?
The rate of depression across groups can be ranked as follows (from most to least common):
- Single, widowed or divorced men
- Single, widowed or divorced women
- Married women
- Married men
We can therefore say that marriage is a protective factor against depression for men.
Does depression go away on its own?
Without any treatment, a depressive episode can resolve on its own within 4 to 9 months. However, research shows that people who have had one depressive episode are highly likely to have another. On average, a person may experience such episodes 4 to 7 times over their lifetime.
Is depression a genetic disorder?
When we look at the causes of depression, we can say that biological, psychological and social factors play a role in interaction with one another. That is, your mother having depression doesn't guarantee that you will too. However, as twin studies show, there is a genetic predisposition, and when this combines with factors such as biochemistry, patterns seen or learned in the family and attachment style, it can be triggered by stress and turn into depression.
Can depression be treated?
Yes. With suitable and appropriate methods, the success rate in treating depression is quite high.
What can we do to prevent it from coming back after treatment?
The most important step is to identify the factors underlying the depression. Working on these factors in therapy and planning an appropriate treatment process is essential. With cognitive behavioural therapy, the person is prepared for possible triggers and stressors and their ability to cope with them is strengthened. In this way, the person learns to cope with the stress factors in their life and can change the path that leads to depression.
