It has been found experimentally that a change in biological rhythms in the human body occurs by its source of heightened intensity light. It were some attempts to prevent the seasonal exacerbation of depression by means of “lengthening day” with the help of lightage and sleep deprivation.

It is supposed that bright and long effecting light affects circadian rhythm, oppresses in epiphysis (endocrine gland which regulates other organs of endocrine system) melatonin secretion, causes changes of cortisol concentration as well as ACTH in patient’s blood. It also changes the catecholamines synthesis and has sympathicotonic and parasympathetic (at the expense of calorific effect) effect. In the end, these changes lead to treatment of depression.

For therapeutic action it is necessary to have room lighting at least 2600 and no more than 8000 luxes.

Necessary lighting is achieved with a help of incandescent lamps, located on the ceiling chamber at a height of 2.5 meters. Usually are used 27 incandescent lamps of 200 Watts. It was noted that the effectiveness of treatment with light increases by coloring the therapy rooms in the white or green, as well as by maximum (25%) naked body. Before a light therapy the patient is carefully examined. The treatment of depression with light can be conducted at any time of day, also with two-day or three-day intervals. During the conversation, patients who are only asked not to shut their eyes can freely move around the room.

Inheritance

The genetics can play a certain part. If one member of the family has already had suicidal tendencies or depression, it may increase the chances to fall ill. Recently scientists have determined genetic traits, which indicate the predisposition to manic-depressive psychosis. Moreover, the researches have shown that if one of the identical twins is suffering from depression, in 70% of cases another twin can also have a depression.

There is a question: “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?”. It is referred to the fact, that if one member of the family is suffering from depression, most probably just domestic surroundings generates depressed atmosphere. You see, if mother or father is low-spirited, then you will have a difficult situation at home, sometimes even unbearable. If you do not have any places to go, you will have a feeling of trap. In such circumstances it is quite simply to go mad.

Psychological factors

The feelings of isolation may be both reasons and signs which predispose person to depression. A lot of specialists point to early parents bereavement or to their aversion regarding child as factors which has an influence on depression development. The neurologists are examining the influence of early emotional bereavements on the brain. It may be parents’ bereavement, child abandonment or inhuman treatment with him.

The interrelation between these early traumatic events and real changes in brain’s neurophysiology are evident. The stress, which was induced by such traumas, has changed neutral pathways, that’s why, following losses, reminding person of outwear sorrow (even unimportant) may cause real depression.

Exogenous stress factors.

The loss of work, conflict interrelations, retirement, natural disasters, problems with a law, as well as death in the family should be considered as factors which cause depression. Besides, exogenous stress factor may be a physical state of the person. Oversupply of certain hormones, such cortisol, which act as a reaction on stressful situation, can cause disbalance in brain and lead to depression.

One ought to bear in mind that depression can be a reason of damage relations, financial failures – a great number of things which can lead to depression.

Why by some people such stressful factors mobilize mental and physical strengths, whereas by others they cause depression? Perhaps, the possibility to transmit a stress is also genetically predetermined. Perhaps, everything depends on its seriousness.

A lingering chronic disease can also be a stressful factor leading to depression. On the 17th January in 1996 «The New York Times» has published an article, where it was said that depression can accompany such illnesses like paralysis, infarction or cancer, as well as it may be its result. The people who has transmitted such diseases are excepted to be
upset, alarmed and shocked, but if these feelings are getting everywhere and they disturb activities of daily living, then you should pay attention to them and start treatment. If depression attends life threatening illnesses, it may prevent from recovery.

Chemical equilibrium disturbance in brain.

First, the fact, that depression arises in certain families, shows that some people have genetic predisposition to such disturbances. Second, the fact that depression has been successfully cured with medications, which has an influence on chemical processes in brain, as well as a fact that many people fall into depression without any visible causes, show that this disease may be caused by chemical disbalance in brain. Indeed, like by a question about egg and chicken, we do not know if this balance disturbance is a cause of pessimistic mood or these events affect and disturb its normal secretion and mediators activity (chemical impulse transmitters between cells) inside brain.

Moreover, the symptoms of some physical diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, hypoglycemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, kidney diseases and others, may include depressed feelings. By some people depression may be caused like a result of some medication, such as contraceptives, heart medications and others medicines, which reduce pressure (for example beta-blocker and calcium–channel blocker), halcion, ativan and other soporifics, cortisone and other steroids, antibiotics.

Moreover, the alcohol abuse and other things may promote depression, of course by its misuse. For example, people suffering from mild form of depression, may feel better in 20-30 minutes after taking some alcohol. But afterwards depression becomes only stronger.

The women can feel depression symptoms and recurrent depressive positions as a result of premenstrual syndrome.

The hormone imbalance, which are secreted by endocrine glands (such as thyroid gland, parathyroid gland and adrenal gland) may also cause depression symptoms. In these cases, when person corrects hormone imbalance – for example when his thyroid gland produces insufficient thyroxin and he starts taking synthetic hormone, – then symptoms are usually disappeared.

There are a number of physiological causes of depression, that is why at once after the first symptoms you should attend sound medical judgment. The precise diagnosis must exclude any other physiological reasons and determine further treatment.

Depression is a disease state which has characteristic symptoms.

By no means is depression a manifestation of the lack of character. This is a serious disease which is accompanied by violations of all psychological and even physical (sleep, appetite, body weight, etc.) functions of a person. Loss or reduction of strong-willed character – is one of the symptoms of the depression. Therefore, you should not advise the person suffering from depression, «to pull yourself together» – he will not be able to overcome the disease without medical care. Depression significantly affects the efficiency, education, social life, relationships with other people, including next of kin.

Is there a connection between depression and female sex?

It is common knowledge that women suffer from depression more often than men. This fact is confirmed by numerous epidemiological researches from different countries. The frequency of depression by women is 2-3 times higher than by men. In modern medicine female sex belongs to factors, which are predisposed to development of depression.

What is a reason of depression?

In many respects depression is connected with changes in endocrine profile, which take place in the woman organism during childbearing age. So-called genesial (genital) cycle passes a number of stages, starting with a menstruation and finishing with its completion. It includes menstrual cycle, pregnancy, childbirth, premenopausal and climacterical periods. At each of these stages there are a lot of changes in the composition and number of hormones, which are accompanied by physiological changes of all functions of the female body, including the psychological realm. Therefore, such changes of endocrine profile are connected with the increased risk of depression.

How does depression become apparent by women?

How it was stated above, the risk of depression increases at each stage of the reproductive cycle. There are different variants (syndromes) of depression in the clinical medicine, which are typical for every stage of the reproductive cycle, – premenstrual syndrome, pregnant depressive syndrome, postnatal depression during premenopausal and climacterical periods.

Manifestation of depression may be different. Depressed mood can manifest itself both by oppression and apathy, and by hyperirritability, maudlin, anxiety, a sense of internal tension. The change in mood is usually accompanied by a decreased activity, a loss of energy, an easy fatiguability and a distracted attention. Depression in women is often accompanied by a variety of somatic disorders: disturbance of sleep (insomnia or excessive sleepiness), appetite disturbance (decreased or increased appetite). There may appear unpleasant feelings of stress and pain in the mammary glands, headaches, pains in joints and muscles, pains in heart and occasional heartbeats, weakness in the body, fluctuations of blood pressure, etc.

The duration of depressions which associated with the reproductive cycle may be different. Premenstrual depressive syndrome is usually brief, about 2 weeks (1 week before and 1 week after menstruation), but it has recrudescent character with the monthly worsening. Post-natal depressions and menopause depressions may be more protracted and continue several weeks and even months.

How can you treat depression?

Depression – is a curable disease. In case of the correct choice of an appropriate remedy and its dose, the completely eliminate from the depression symptoms is quite possible.

The treatment of depression occurs only with the help of special medicines, which called antidepressants.

The treatment of depression should be ordered only by a doctor. We must remember that every person has its own characteristics of depression, which are connected both with the gravity of the disease and it clinical manifestations. The correct choice of treatment in each case requires the appreciation of multiple characteristics of the patient. Only doctor can correctly identify, evaluate and classify such features. In no case one should not resort to the help of relatives or friends or choose a means of treating independently, on the grounds that some medication helped someone who you know.

This rule must be observed, especially if change of mood is accompanied by a changes of overall health, violations of bodily functions and pains that is most characteristic for depressions which are associated with the reproductive cycle. In such cases, only doctor can properly assess the nature of symptoms, determine the actual state of internal organs and choose medicines that will be not only effective but also safe. It is strongly encouraged to take antidepressants during pregnancy and lactation.

Nowadays there are a lot of antidepressants. All modern medications of this class are effective and safe. However each of them has its own differential characteristics, which connected both with therapeutic action and its dosage.

The treatment of depression takes time. You should not wait for the recovery in the first days of taking the medication. Remember that all modern antidepressants effect the depression no earlier than in 1-2 weeks after beginning the treatment. During this period a doctor also identifies the necessary dosage.

The abolition from the antidepressant, as well as its prescription, should only be ordered by a doctor. Even after the complete disappearance of all symptoms of depression you should continue to take antidepressants for some period of time. It is connected with a risk of worsening depression, which in case of premature abolition of therapy is very high – up to 60-80%. Moreover, the worsening of depression, associated with the premature termination of treatment, usually more difficult responds to treatment. The duration of such additional period of treatment, which aim is preventive measures, determines only doctor on the basis of individual characteristics of each patient.

Remember, even if you decide to stop treatment before the period determined by a doctor, it is necessarily to consult with a specialist.