Chapter 57 Depression
Depression is a common and serious disorder. At any one moment in time, about 1 in 20 individuals suffers from a significant depressive disorder, and it is estimated that 17% of the population will suffer from a major depressive disorder at some point throughout their life (Hammen & Watkins, 2007). Depression can be a disabling condition, and patients may be unable to function effectively for several months. According to the World Health Organization, depression is currently rated the fourth leading cause of disability throughout the world, and it is predicted to rise to second leading cause by the year 2010. It is becoming increasingly recognized that children and adolescents can suffer from depression, and that this is often not diagnosed or treated.
What is depression?
The major features of depression are outlined in Box 1. Typically patients have a systematically biased negative view not just of themselves, but also of their world and their future (the negative cognitive triad). Depression can be a chronic or recurring condition. Suicidal thoughts and attempts are the most worrying and disturbing features of depression. It has been estimated that between 11 and 17% of individuals with a diagnosis of major depression eventually die by their own hands. A startling fact is that, currently in the UK, suicide is the leading cause of death in men under the age of 35.
