What are the two most common causes of depression?

The silent enemy that affects all people during the stage of their human development and can end life. In both DSM-5 and ICD-11, they refer to distinguishing depressive disorder from sadness caused by grief, as well as other types of depression. In both guides they mention that a certain duration and symptoms are required that will distinguish them from each one and their degree of dysfunctionality depends on it.

There are many studies that refer to the causes of depression, among them are the causes genetic-biological and external causes such as losses, life stage changes, traumatic events, among others. It is also important to know that depression is not only the cause of biological alterations, but it is also the consequence of abnormalities or comorbidities, making it a complex phenomenon for diagnosis and treatment. treatment.

Likewise, it is important to know that Depression affects all age groups so it does not make any distinction based on race, gender, social or cultural status, etc.

. Talking about depression is a very complex issue because it occurs throughout the life of a human being, which is why In this article I will only focus on the two causes and for this I want to start by giving by definition what the depression.

Depression: endogenous and exogenous causes

According to the WHO (2023), depression is a serious illness because it affects the ability to work, study, sleep and enjoy life itself. From the cognitive perspective, depression presents a pattern of a negative view of oneself, the environment and the future.

Depression is a mental illness that affects all age groups on a mental and physical level and is one of the most prevalent disorders. and its level of severity can lead to disability and even suicide.

1. Endogenous causes

Genetic factors are related to the hereditary part, that is, if one's parents or grandparents suffered from depression, there is a possibility that one may also suffer from it at some point.. For its part, the biological/organic factor refers to the biological alterations of the body or medical causes such as a chronic disease such as diabetes, cancer, problems cerebrovascular-cardiovascular, HIV, hyper or hypothyroidism, hyper or hypoparathyroidism, mental disorders such as ADHD, the consumption of certain substances and even drugs, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, among others.

Due to human development, people go through different stages where hormones can be altered either as part of their own development or due to diseases, this alteration can be one of the causes of depression, especially the hormones of the adrenal, thyroid and axis. gonads. These hormones play a very important role in modulating dopamine and serotonin receptors. In order to regulate this imbalance of hormones, they must undergo DHEA-S hormonal treatment (sex hormones), which can improve depression.

Likewise, for the stage of menopause and andropause, hormone treatment (estrogen, progesterone and testosterone) is suggested to balance the deficiency and improve depression. Another hormone that can cause depression is cortisol, since high or low levels trigger depression. Likewise, hyperactivity of the pituitary adrenal axis can cause depression. Melatonin and growth hormone are also related to depression since their deficiency or alteration generates this problem.

On the other hand, we have vitamin and mineral deficiencies related to poor diet, including:

• Vitamin A: In a recent study it has been shown that there is a relationship between retinoids and depression, it mentions that deficiency of the vitamin produces damage to the hippocampal laminae, which affects long-term synaptic plasticity and the maintenance of depression.
• Vitamin BIn a clinical study of patients who survived a stroke, folic acid, B6 and B12 were administered and it was found that they had reduced the risk of major depression.
• Vitamin D and EThere are many studies that insufficiency of both vitamins is associated with depression.
• Calcium and Magnesium: Their deficiency in both is associated with chronic depression, and it is also suggested for cases of depression related to hypoparathyroidism, since their consumption improves depression.
• Omega 3 and zinc*: deficiency of both generates depression, while an adequate dose of them helps improve anger, hostility and depression.

On the other hand, Manresa (2022) states that inflammatory and immune-based diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, Intestinal inflammation are diseases that are related to the deterioration of the quality of life and thus increase the risk of suffering from depression.

Psychological and psychiatric disorders can also cause depression. For example, childhood traumas, personality disorders such as BPD, anxiety disorders, among others. To conclude, when referring to depression due to endogenous causes, it refers to a cause of genetic or biological origin or disease.

2. Exogenous causes

The main exogenous causes, caused by factors external to us, are the following:

• The losses: When I refer to losses I refer to the different types of loss such as death of a loved one, the breakup of a love affair, a job, economic or material losses, among others. Any type of loss that represents an importance for the person will generate pain, sadness, frustration, anger... all of this is part of the healing process. grief, however, many people prolong it too much or remain with that pain, sadness or guilt of the loss, which will generate depression, whether acute or chronicle.

• Body dissatisfaction: Castillo (2021), conducted a review study about body image and depression in dancing adults and older adults, and Results from different sources supported that there is an indirect and proportional relationship between body image and depression. Which indicates that, if a person is not satisfied or satisfied with their body or any part of it, they are likely to develop depression.

• Environment: People are largely the result of the interrelationship with their environment (home-family, schools-friends, community-neighborhood...) from the micro to the macrocosm such as society, the continent and the world. This relationship of the subject with the environment can be constructive or destructive, it will depend on whether this is a safe space which generates tranquility and security and can evolve. with that basis or perhaps this environment is very harmful and destructive and this generates a lot of stress in the subject and this will trigger a series of problems within them. depression.

• Social: The social cause refers to all daily difficulties, undesirable or unpleasant events such as the pandemic of Covid-19, also life circumstances, all of which generate chronic stress and consequently depression.

Treatment

As for the treatment, it will depend on the causes if you present, if you say if it has endogenous and exogenous causes, the treatment will be both pharmacological and psychotherapeutic, and if the cause is endogenous, the treatment will be only drugs and if the cause is exogenous, what is indicated is the psychotherapy.

Regarding the therapeutic model, cognitive behavioral therapy is suggested, but for cases of chronic depression, recommends schema therapy because depression can be related to childhood trauma or personality disorders or others. Behavioral therapy and Klerman's interpersonal therapy can also be used, which focuses on the present, on interpersonal or psychosocial problems..

Conclusions

To conclude, depression is a mental illness that affects different areas or spheres of the person and also affects all age groups and its severity can even end the life of the person. person. It is for this reason that mental health professionals must carry out a deep analysis together with other medical disciplines to identify the causes of the disorder. depression so that they can carry out a timely and effective therapeutic intervention (drugs or psychotherapeutics) that really helps the person get out of the depression. depression.