Essay Example on Depression: Causes, Types, and Effects

Introduction

There are various types of depression, namely, clinical depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder. Depression brings multiple physical and emotional problems. It affects how someone feels, thinks, or behaves. The common characteristics are loss of interest and persistent sadness, which brings immense change to the life of the individual. Various factors are attributed to causing depression, for example, psychosocial threats and needs. However, most of the existing studies argue that depression is not a disease but rather a symptom of other underlying problems.

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Theories on Depression

Theories on the cause of depression are complicated. One of them indicates that depression occurs as a result of regular brain neurochemistry disruption (Remick, 2002). The disturbance results from a chemical imbalance, precisely norepinephrine, and serotonin. However, there are some contradictions from another research done, which indicates that the presence of serotonin and norepinephrine in low quantities does not necessarily contribute to depression (Kresser, 2014). For instance, some patients suffering from depression may show very high levels of the chemicals mentioned above. In contrast, people who have never had a history of depression often record low levels of the substances mentioned above in their brains

Effects of Depression

Depressive disorders often cause significant disability and death. For instance, patients suffering from cardiovascular illnesses have a high risk of dying, even with minimal signs of depression (Remick, 2002). In addition to that, the disorders also result in lowered productivity at work. When somebody fails to get their relational needs met, the emotional system produces signals that produce a nasty spiral of isolation and shutting down. The extreme negative moods result from a deficiency in the critical domains of the self, family, friends group, or lovers. If support is not available to reboot the system, it results in the adverse effect syndrome, which causes reduced productivity.

Depression and Diet

A recent theory titled, "Immune Cytokine Model of Depression" indicates that depression is not a disease but rather a "multifaceted sign of chronic immune system activation" (Kresser, 2014). The research further indicts that depression results from increased inflammation levels. High inflammation levels increase the probability of depression, while clinical depression remission often results in inflammatory markers normalization (Pearson, 2020). Vitamin D deficiency, dental caries and periodontal disease, chronic infections, sleep deprivation, lack of physical activity, stress, obesity, poor diet, and gut health are all identified as underlying issues causing depression.

Depressed people are always associated with an unhealthy lifestyle and poor diet (Remick, 2002). Most foods consumed now days contain factors that arouse inflammation, therefore, resulting in illnesses. They include preservatives, refined flour, and sugar in excessive amounts, chemical additives, and trans-fats, among others. These foods affect the environment of the gut negatively. The health of the stomach has the most profound effects on mood, either positively or negatively. Disruption in the balance between good and bad bacteria results in a variety of feelings, cognitive problems, and illnesses like inflammatory bowel disease (Naidoo, 2019). The condition results typically from dysfunction in the interaction between microbes, the immune system, and the gut lining. Also, a gut that is leaking, which results from an unhealthy lifestyle, permits lipopolysaccharide to pass through into the bloodstream where they evoke the release of inflammatory cytokines, which are known to cause depression.

Healthy eating habits or and keeping away from foods producing inflammation may contribute a lot to fighting depression. Salmon, oysters, spinach, strawberries, lettuce, mussels, cauliflower and watercress are some of the foods containing nutrients involved in the treatment and prevention of depression (Naidoo, 2019). For a healthy gut and improved moods, the professionals recommend the following food varieties: fermented and probiotic-rich foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole foods, and seafood. A healthy gut boosts the immune system and prevents autoimmune diseases. It also contributes to brain and heart health and improved mood.

Ethical Aspects

When handling depression patients, every decision made should be within the approved moral standards. The doctors should seek help when treating patients who are a handful, to safeguard against unnecessary danger. The care of depressed patients poses an urgency due to the pervasive hopelessness feeling and sadness, which calls for ethical measures in restoring the individual's self-agency and ensuring the safety of the patient. The diagnosis of other diseases in the presence of depression should also be discussed together with the patient involved and the mode of treatment achieved together.

Pros of Treating Depression as a Symptom and Using Diet as a Form of Treatment

Identification of the underlying problem causing depression comes with considerable positive outcomes. One of them is a sense of empowerment and relief for the patient. The treatment of the underlying problem using the correct medication and the right diet brings immense change to their moods and their lives, respectively. Treating depression through proper diet intake also brings enormous benefits. First, it promotes good gut health. The gut is responsible for the appropriate functioning of many processes in the body. Therefore, a healthy gut equals a healthy body. Secondly, it prevents the use of medications known to cause adverse negative effects on the body. For instance, the commonly known side effects of antidepressants are gut-related, like diarrhea and nausea (Naidoo, 2019). The problem is due to the two way physiological and anatomical communication between the gut and the brain. Instead of or eradicating the problem, the drugs result in a cycle of recurring issues.

Cons of Treating Depression as a Symptom and Using Diet as a Form of Treatment

Different mood disorders have disparate roots. Diagnosis or verification of the type of disease mostly focuses on the set of symptoms or signs to accord the right treatment. Different disorders require different approaches to clinical management. Therefore, using diet alone as a form of treatment may not be satisfactory to curb the problem. It should, however, be used to supplement the medication for the achievement of quality results.

Conclusion

Most of the studies available argue that depression is not a disease but rather a symptom of other underlying problems. Depression is a symptom of underlying issues in the body, not a disease. Correct diagnosis, proper dieting, and healthy lifestyles go in a long way towards preventing the problems that result in depression. Depressive disorders often cause significant disability and death. For instance, patients suffering from cardiovascular illnesses have a high risk of dying, even with minimal signs of depression. Maintaining a healthy gut also through healthy food intakes contributes to the general wellbeing and health of the body as a lot of body processes rely on it. Treating depression through proper diet intake has enormous benefits, such as promoting good gut health. The gut is responsible for the appropriate functioning of many processes in the body. However, using diet alone as a form of treatment may not be satisfactory to curb the disorder.

References

Kresser, C. (2014, August 19). Is depression a disease or a symptom of inflammation? Chris Kresser. https://chriskresser.com/is-depression-a-disease-or-a-symptom-of-inflammation/

Naidoo, U. (2019, March 27). Gut feelings: how food affects your mood. Harvard health publishing: Harvard medical school. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/gut-feelings-how-food-affects-your-mood-2018120715548

Pearson. S. (2020, February 23). Ketogenic diet for anxiety and depression. Low Carb Alpha. https://lowcarbalpha.com/ketogenic-diet-for-depression/

Remick, R. (2002). Diagnosis and management of depression in primary care: a clinical update and review. Canadian Medical Association Journal 167 (11). https://www.cmaj.ca/content/167/11/1253.full