Major Depression Research Paper

“An estimated 350 million people worldwide are affected by depression. Making depression the leading cause for disability worldwide” (Marcus 6). Although major depression, also known as clinical depression, is one of the most common forms of depression and it can wreak havoc on one’s life, it is possible to learn to cope with it. “6.9% of adults in the U.S.—16 million—had at least one major depressive episode in the past year” (Mental Health by the Numbers). There are many causes that can cause major depression such as abuse, genetics, major life events, or loss. Major depression affects a person’s life from day to day activates, to sleep, to eating and weight, to relationships, and to work and school. There are several different ways to learn how to cope and treat clinical

With further studies scientist have now concluded that an imbalance of chemicals is not necessarily the causing factor of depression. Some factors that can cause an episode of depression are physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, medications, loss or death, substance abuse, serious illness, major events, and genetics. With genetics playing the biggest roll in the cause of depression. “If a person has a family history of depression they are 20% to 30% times more likely to develop depression sometime in their life, compared to the average person who is only 10% likely to develop depression” (Levinson). There have been several studies done by the Medical Research Council Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre at King’s College in London on how genetics relate to depression. The researchers found a significant linkage between a certain chromosome, 3p25-26, and depression. “The linkage finding was replicated by another group who found genome-wide-significant linkage for depression in the same region. This suggests that 3p25-26 is a new locus for severe recurrent depression” (Breen