Depression is a very complex illness and no there is no single cause of depression.
Biological, psychological, and social factors all play a part, as do lifestyle choices, relationships, and coping skills. According to a Special Report on Depression published by Harvard Medical School, researchers have identified a number of different factors that may put a person at risk for depression, including faulty mood regulation by the brain, genetic predisposition, stress, medical problems, and medications.[1] It’s believed that several of these forces interact, often – but not always – in the context of some triggering event, to bring on depression.
Below is a list, adapted from the Harvard Special Report on Depression, of various factors that researchers believe play a role in depression.
Researchers believe that disruptions in the complex brain systems involved in mood regulation have a major impact on depression.[2] While evidence points to imbalances in particular chemical messengers in the brain playing a role in depression,[3] this is typically complicated by other factors and is rarely considered a cause on its own.
Depression is known to be influenced by a person’s genetic make-up.[4] If something in the genes goes awry, they can alter your biology in a way that results in your mood becoming unstable.
In a genetically predisposed person, different stressors (such as relationship conflict or the loss of a job) can then push this system off balance and lead to depression. While a history of depression in your family does not mean that development of depression is a certainty, it is associated with an increased risk. If a close relative has experienced depression, you should be aware of what depression is, how it can be treated, and how to gauge your own health.
Your genetic makeup influences how sensitive you are to stress. When genetics, biology, and stressful life situations come together, depression can result. But stress has its own consequences. It triggers a chain of chemical reactions and responses in the body.
If the stress is short-lived, the body will usually return to normal. But when stress is long-lasting or the system gets stuck in overdrive, changes in the body and brain can occur that lead to depression. Certain stressors can have lasting emotional and physical consequences. Studies have found that early losses and emotional trauma could leave a person more susceptible to depression later in life.
Certain medical problems have been linked to depression.[5] These include:
Sometimes, symptoms of depression may be a side effect of certain drugs, such as steroids or blood pressure medication. Some medications in the following drug categories have been reported to have depression-like side effects:
It’s important to keep in mind that:
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