How can I get depression? What are the causes of depression?

People's understanding of depression is often superficial. This makes it difficult to fully help friends and family members who suffer from depression. So what are the causes of depression?

In general, common causes of depression include:

(1) Biochemical factors:

Catecholamine hypothesis: mainly refers to the fact that the cause of depression may be related to the decrease in the concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) neurotransmitters in the intersynaptic space of the brain; after the use of many antidepressants, such as selective 5-hydroxytryptamine reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) or selective 5-hydroxytryptamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), although the concentration of these neurotransmitters in the intersynaptic space of the brain increases rapidly, the antidepressant effect generally takes about 2 weeks to take effect, so there is a hypothesis of increased sensitivity (supersensitivity) of 5-HT and NE receptors. This is an important hypothesis about the cause of depression.

(2) Psychosocial factors:

It is also a common cause of depression. Various major life events that occur suddenly or persist for a long time can cause strong or (and) lasting unpleasant emotional experiences, leading to the occurrence of depression.

(3) Genetic factors:

Genetic epidemiological surveys of large sample populations show that the closer the blood relationship with the patient, the higher the probability of disease. The probability of first-degree relatives being sick is much higher than that of other relatives, which is consistent with the general law of genetic diseases. This is also an important cause of depression.