Causes of Depression:
What They are and How to Identify Them

There is much debate as to the causes of depression. This is because depression is still very much misunderstood and the factors that cause a depressive episode in one person are not the same for another.

It is for this reason that some experts talk about risk factors for depression rather than causes of depression.

However, research has shown that although there is no one single cause of depression, four main factors can lead to depression. These are:

• Psychological factors
  These causes of depression refer to depression occurring due to life experiences.
  • Fears, e.g. fear of death, phobias
  • Experiencing a tragic event at some point in your life can be a cause of depression
  • Major life changes are also one cause of depression, especially in children and the elderly
• Physical factors
  • Heredity: Those of us with family members who have had some form of depressive illness are at an increased risk of depression
  • Major illnesses: The stress of coping with a major illness can lead to a depressive episode and be among the strongest causes of depression
  • Substance abuse, that is, addiction to drugs or alcohol. Addiction can be a cause of depression as the addict's perception becomes altered
• Personality factors
  • Poor coping skills: Stress can lead to depressive episodes in persons who have not developed the necessary skills to handle pressure, thus be among the important causes of depression
  • Low self-esteem can be and is a leading cause of depression in some people
• Medical factors
  • Chemical imbalance: An imbalance of two neurotransmitters in the brain, serotonin and norepinephrine, are believed to be one cause of depression
  • Hormonal imbalance: During varying phases of life hormones change and this can be a cause of depression, as can occur during menopause
  • Certain medication: research has shown that some medication can trigger depressive episodes, thus become a cause of depression

The causes of depression can also be different depending on age, socio-economic background and physical health.

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