Family relationships can become strained when the depressed person might need his family most. Job and school performance can suffer, and high levels of absenteeism are common. This can lead to job loss and loss of insurance at a time when finances and access to medical care are especially important. Unfortunately, despite many gains in the past few years, a stigma is still attached to undergoing and even seeking treatment for a mental illness, and some people may avoid acknowledging their depression to avoid that stigma. Factors that can trigger an episode of major depression include severe life stresses, such as death of a loved one, divorce, serious financial difficulty, chronic illness, and chemical dependence, particularly on alcohol or cocaine.
Women are at higher risk because pregnancy and postpartum changes can precipitate depression.
Poor health, social isolation, poverty, and bereavement are among the common causes of depression in the elderly. While chronic illness of any sort can cause a depression, some illnesses seem to have depression as one of their side effects. These include systemic lupus erythematosus and Parkinson's disease. Certain medications, including some that are used to treat high blood pressure or Parkinson's disease, can cause depression. Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness Excessive or inappropriate feelings of guilt Decreased ability to concentrate Recurrent thoughts of death Recurrent thoughts of suicide or a suicide attempt People with wide mood swings, from depression to elation, might be suffering from a different condition known as bipolar affective disorder, previously called manic-depressive illness.