Etiology Recent research has confirmed that depression usually involves a chemical imbalance of the brain. Antidepressants can restore the balance. The disease is a multifaceted, complex disorder which affects many different systems of the body. It involves the way people think and act, the way they eat and sleep, and their attitude toward themselves. It is a condition that cannot be wished or willed away.
Depressed persons feel down, sad, and hopeless.
Often, they feel they may never be happy again and are unworthy of treatment. With this sense of hopelessness, they may occasionally wish to die to relieve their suffering. Depression must be taken seriously because it can be fatal. Depression is believed to be caused by a combination of factors. Research studies suggest there is a genetic predisposition for depressive disorders.