Diagnosis of Depression Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Diagnosis of Depression - Essay Example Certain chemicals called neurotransmitters occur in the brain naturally. High-tech imaging of brain shows that physical changes in neurotransmitters causes depression in people, though certain factors like weight loss and lack of sleep might also be the causes of depression. Although it is not a main cause, yet depleted monoamine levels are commonly observed in the chronically depressed patients. Hormonal imbalances also cause depression. Likewise, there are some medicines that have an adverse impact on mood and need proper monitoring, else they can cause depression. ïÆ'˜Â  Environmental FactorsThe environment is also a possible causal factor of depression. In everyday life, people are exposed to numerous stressful situations that include but are not limited to loss of job, divorce, death of a friend or a family member, financial problems, and diseases. In addition to these factors, several unfortunate or traumatic events experienced in the past like child sexual abuse, violence, and bullying and any kind of maltreatment may affect the emotional and psychological health in a negative way. Diagnostic Criteria for DepressionBefore getting into the details of psychoanalytic theories of depression, it is customary to discuss the psychiatric criteria of diagnosis of depression as outlined by DSM-IV. According to DSM-IV, the patient needs to have at least five symptoms from the list of nine symptoms given below sustained over a period of two weeks and the symptoms bring a transition from the previous functioning.