About History Of Clinical Depression: History Of Clinical Depression

Some people may have a history of clinical depression. Depression not only affects the person who is going through it, but also everyone around them, including friends, family, loved ones, spouses, and children.

History of major depression

The word ‘depression’ was taken from the Latin verb ‘deprimere’ (meaning ‘to press down’). This term was used by the English author Richard Baker' when he referred to a person with a major depression in spirit' likewise' Samuel Johnson' the English Writer used this term in 1753. This term was used to describe it as a psychiatric sign by the French Psychiatric Louis Delasiauve' German Psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin was the first to use the term depressive state referring to different kinds of melancholia. Kraepelin unified these mood disorders to manic depressive insanity. In the 1970’s' US clinicians used the term Major Depressive Disorder.

Major Depression' also known as Major Depressive Disorder' Unipolar Disorder and Clinical Disorder' is a serious illness' that affects a person’s mood as well as the physical aspects of fatigue' loss of energy' insomnia' lack of interest in activities' weight loss' low self-esteem' lack of concentration' thought of hurting oneself and suicide. Major depressive disorder is known to be episodic. This name was chosen by the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistic Manual (DSM-III) of 1980 version and this classification has been used since then.

This term depression is mostly used to describe the illness' but since it is used to describe a low-sad feeling as well' the precise and appropriate term is used for research and diagnosis. In the United States almost 5.6% suffer from major depression' and out of which nearly 4% commit suicide.

Like other illnesses major depression is not diagnosed with laboratory tests' and the form of diagnosis for this condition is by analyzing the patient' speaking to him and from the symptoms prevailing in him. People generally suffer from depression' in their late twenties and early thirties' and it is more common in people over the age of 55 years. Though major depression is more common in women' according to research more men commit suicide due to this condition.

Depression is treated with counseling' psychotherapy' antidepressant drugs' and those who suffer from severe depression are treated with electroconvulsive therapy.

Though depression has been a sickness many have suffered for over centuries' many aspects of this condition are yet under research. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans of those suffering from major depression have found brain structure changes. Though there are no consistency in the results' meta-analysis reveal that there are small hippocampal and number of hyperintensive lesions. According to research lack of hippocampal neurons can lead to depression.

It is believed that 50% of those suffering from major depression recover fully' and 15% of them can have a recurrence if they are not properly treated. Antidepressant drugs combined with psychotherapy are known to be successful remedies' and many have been cured of the condition by this treatment.