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Risk Factors for Depression

A risk factor makes the chances of having a health problem higher. You can have depression with or without any of those listed below. But the more risks you have, the higher the chances of having depression. Talk to your doctor to get help lowering your risk.

Mental Illness in Your Family

If you have people in your family with mental health problems, your risk is higher for depression. This is also true if you have a spouse or partner with it.

Long-term Health Problems

Changes in your body can also be linked to changes in your mental state. Long-term problems from a stroke, heart attack, cancer, or HIV can lead to depression. This can also happen after a head injury. If you've had bouts of depression in the past, it can make the chances of having them again much higher.

Alcohol and substance use disorders are linked with a higher risk of depression.

Major Life Changes

Stressful changes in your life can lead to bouts of depression. These changes can be from problems in your marriage or job, with money, or injury or combat. Problems from your past can also lead to depression. This can happen because of any type of abuse, violence at home, bullying, or a parent in the military who left home.

Little or No Social Support

Not having a support system in place can make the chances of depression higher. Feelings of isolation or a lack of social contacts have been found in those who have depression.

Mental Health

Certain mental health factors put people at risk for depression. It’s mainly found in those with low self-esteem, who have a poor outlook, or who feel overwhelmed by stress.

Depression is also more common in people with anxiety or other mental health problems.

Teens who have tried to self-harm by the age of 16 have a higher risk of having depression by the time they're young adults. For those who wanted to take their own life, the risk is even higher.

Gender

Women have depression about twice as often as men. Changes in hormone levels may be part of the reason. This can happen with your monthly periods, pregnancy, miscarriage, after having a baby, or menopause.

Women also have stress at work and home. This is added to being the main caretakers for children and older parents.

Money Problems

Stress related to money, job changes, and housing can raise the risk of depression. If these happen regularly, it means stress can be constant. Over time, this can take a toll on your mental health.

Age

Depression can happen at any age, but the risk is higher for older adults. Many times, it's not found or it's not treated the right way. It can be ignored as a common sign of aging, but this isn't the case.

Race and Ethnicity

Depression is more common in White people. But when it does happen in Black people, it's often more severe and long-lasting. Blacks are less likely to have depression treated.

Sleep Disorders

Long-term sleep problems are linked to higher rates of depression. If you have problems getting sleep on a regular basis, call your doctor for help.

Medicines

Certain medicines are linked to depression:

  • Pain relievers
  • Sedatives
  • Sleeping pills
  • Steroids
  • Those that treat seizures
REFERENCES:

Depressive disorders. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/psychiatric-disorders/mood-disorders/depressive-disorders. Updated May 2018. Accessed October 8, 2018.

Depression in children and adolescents. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T906140/Depression-in-children-and-adolescents. Updated July 23, 2018. Accessed October 8, 2018.

Depression in elderly patients. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T906139/Depression-in-elderly-patients. Updated May 26, 2017. Accessed October 8, 2018.

Depression (mild to moderate). EBSCO Natural and Alternative Treatments website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/biomedical-libraries/natural-alternative-treatments. Updated September 2, 2016. Accessed October 8, 2018.

Depression. National Institute of Mental Health website. Available at: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml. Updated February 2018. Accessed October 8, 2018.

Ellison CG, Flannelly KJ. Religious involvement and risk of major depression in a prospective nationwide study of African American adults. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2009;197(8):568-573.

Major depressive disorder (MDD). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T116638/Major-depressive-disorder-MDD. Updated August 23, 2018. Accessed October 8, 2018.

Williams DR, Gonzalez HM, Neighbors H, et al. Prevalence and distribution of major depressive disorder in African Americans, Caribbean Blacks, and Non-Hispanic Whites. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2007;64(3):305-315.

11/6/2014 DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillancehttp://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T116638/Major-depressive-disorder-MDD: Mars B, Heron J, Crane, C, et al. Clinical and social outcomes of adolescent self harm: population based birth cohort study. 2014;349:g5954.

1/4/2016 DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillancehttps://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T906140/Depression-in-children-and-adolescents: Creech SK, Hadley W, Borsari B. The impact of military deployment and reintegration on children and parenting: a systematic review. Prof Psychol Res Pr. 2014;45(6):452-464.

Last reviewed September 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Adrian Preda, MD