What are the prevention and risk factors associated with depression?
The concept of
risk is a modern one. The word derives from the Italian riscare,
meaning "to dare." Before such a concept, the future could only be
predicted by consulting the gods, prophets, or astrologers, and when bad
things happened, they were attributed to fate. The concept of risk was
born out of a simple yet practical question regarding games of chance
when money was at stake. Given certain known events that just occurred in
the game, what are the odds for winning the game? From there, everything
about predicting the future grew and forecasting with degrees of
certainty for future events of all kinds developed. Knowledge of risk
gives one some power over future events so as to make the odds more
favorable to one's goals. For example, although wearing seat belts does
not change the odds of getting into an accident, it does change the odds
of surviving one.
In medicine,
the knowledge of risk factors helps to understand the odds of developing
certain diseases. It is important, however, to remember that odds, no
matter how favorable or unfavorable, are still just odds with the outcome
for any particular event still unknown. Just because the odds of
developing lung cancer are greater for one who smokes a pack of
cigarettes a day than one who does not, does not mean that the outcomes
are certain.
There are risk factors that one can change and risk factors that one
cannot. One cannot change the genes inherited from one's parents, but one
can use the knowledge of one's family history to help make choices in
life to reduce other risk factors contributing to the probability of
developing a particular disease. Thus, recommendations for various
diagnostic tests for breast cancer, colon cancer, and heart disease vary
depending on whether someone has a family history for a particular
condition. With all of this in mind;
The risk factors for depression are
as follows:
-
Gender:
Depression is two times more likely in females.
-
Age: The peak
age of onset is 20—40 years.
-
Family
history: A person is at one and a half to three times higher risk when he
or she has a positive family history for mood disorders.
-
Marital
status: Separated and divorced persons report higher rates. Married males
have lower rates than unmarried males, and married females have higher
rates than unmarried females.
-
Postpartum:
There is an increased risk for the 6-month period after childbirth.
-
Negative life
events: A possible association exists.
-
Early parental
death: A possible association exists.
-
Premorbid
personality factors: A possible association exists.
-
Co-morbid
psychiatric illnesses: A clear association exists.
-
Substance
abuse or alcoholism history: A clear association exists.
-
Socioeconomic
status: A possible association exists.
-
Childhood
conduct and behavior problems: There is a 20% increase at the age of 21
years.
The risk
factors of developing recurrent depression are as follows:
Controlling
the depression risk factor
In depression,
the risk factors that one has control over are very limited when compared
with diseases such as heart disease that has opportunities for lowering
cholesterol, blood pressure, and weight, through various options,
including diet, exercise, smoking cessation, and prescription
medications. It is often difficult, if not impossible, to change exposure
to any of the risk factors for depression mentioned previously here,
except for substance abuse and alcoholism, and yet the perceived level of
control over developing depression is much greater than other diseases,
another paradox of mental illness! Regarding the risk of recurrence, some
control over risk factors can be taken by ensuring aggressive treatment
with a competent clinician or team of clinicians and sticking to the
treatment plan, with frequent follow-up visits to ensure that the
symptoms are controlled effectively with all available therapies.
