RISK FACTORS OF DEPRESSION FROM MAYOCLINIC.COM

RISKS FACTORS FOR DEPRESSION FROM MAYOCLINIC.COM

Although precise statistics aren't known, depression is considered relatively common. In any given year, about 12 million adults in the United States have depression. Depression cuts across all racial, ethnic and economic divides—no one is immune from the risk of getting depression.

Depression can arise at any age, affecting everyone from young children to older adults. Twice as many women are diagnosed with depression as men, but this may be due in part because women are more likely to seek treatment.

Researchers have indentified certain factors that seem to increase the risk of developing or triggering depression:

Having other biological relatives with depression
Stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one
Having a depressed mood as a youngster
Illness, such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's or HIV/AIDS
Long-term use of certain medications, such as some drugs used to control high blood pressure, sleeping pills or, occasionally birth control pills
Certain personality traits, such as having low self-esteem and being overly independent, self-critical or pessimistic
Alcohol, nicotine and drug abuse
Having recently given birth

When to seek medical advice

It's perfectly normal to occasionally feel sad or upset, or to be unhappy with situations in your life. But with depression, these feelings linger for weeks, months or even years. And these feelings also are much more intense than “just the blues” and can interfere with relationships, work and daily activities, and even your ability to eat and bathe.