Most people experience a complete remission of their symptoms. For others, however, the depression partially remits, becomes recurrent or is chronic. Typically, depression is very responsive to treatment. Of those who seek help, the majority are treated successfully. Clinically significant depression is more than the emotional experience of sadness.
Mood symptoms interact with cognitive, behavioural and physical symptoms.
This imbalance may occur as a result of such things as medical illness or hormonal fluctuations. In addition, research has demonstrated that some people may have a genetic predisposition to depression. If someone in your family has had problems with depression, it increases your chances of experiencing depression. The strongest predictor of depression is past depression. Those who have experienced depression in the past are at higher risk to experience it again.