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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffDepression often begins in the teens, 20s or 30s, but it can happen at any age. Twice as many women are diagnosed with depression as men, but this may be due in part because women are more likely to seek treatment for depression.
Although the precise cause of depression isn't known, researchers have identified certain factors that seem to increase the risk of developing or triggering depression, including:
- Having biological relatives with depression
- Being a woman
- Having traumatic experiences as a child
- Having family members or friends who have been depressed
- Experiencing stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one
- Having few friends or other personal relationships
- Recently having given birth (postpartum depression)
- Having been depressed previously
- Having a serious illness, such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's or HIV/AIDS
- Having certain personality traits, such as having low self-esteem and being overly dependent, self-critical or pessimistic
- Abusing alcohol, nicotine or illicit drugs
- Taking certain high blood pressure medications, sleeping pills or certain other medications (Talk to your doctor before stopping any medication you think could be affecting your mood.)
- Depressive disorders. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Jan. 12, 2009.
- Depression. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/index.shtml. Accessed Jan. 12, 2010.
- Loosen PT, et al. Mood disorders. In: Ebert MH, et al. Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Psychiatry. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=3285019. Accessed Jan. 12, 2010.
- Espinoza RT, et al. Diagnosis and management of late-life depression. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 12, 2010.
- Lyness JM. Depression: Epidemiology and pathogenesis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 12, 2010.
- Hall-Flavin, DK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. January 19, 2009.
- Katon W, et al. Initial treatment of depression in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 12, 2010.
- Martinez M, et al. Psychopharmacology. In: Hales RE. Textbook of Psychiatry. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2008. http://www.psychiatryonline.com/content.aspx?aID=320111. Accessed Jan. 12, 2009.
- van der Watt G, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of anxiety and depression. Current Opinion in Psychiatry. 2008;2:37.
- Mischoulon D. Update and critique of natural remedies as antidepressant treatments. Obstetrics & Gynecology Clinics of North America. 2009;36:789.
- Wahner-Roedler D. Treating 20 common conditions. In: Bauer B. Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine. New York, N.Y.: Time Inc.; 2007:174.
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