Vol. 1, Issue 3 (2012)

Author(s):
Debjit bhowmik, K.P. Sampath Kumar*, Shweta Srivastava, Shravan Paswan, Amit Sankar Dutta

Abstract:
Depression is the most common of the affective disorders; it may range from a very mild condition, bordering on normality, to severe (psychotic) depression accompanied by hallucinations and delusions. Worldwide, depression is a major cause of disability and premature death. When the negative reactions to life`s situations become repetitively intense and frequent we develop symptoms of depression. Life throws up innumerable situations, which we greet with both negative and positive emotions such as excitement, frustration, fear, happiness, anger, sadness.  Depression is prevalent among all age groups, in almost all walks of life. Indians are among the world's most depressed. According to a World Health Organization-sponsored study, while around 9% of people in India reported having an extended period of depression within their lifetime, nearly 36% suffered from what is called Major Depressive Episode (MDE). MDE is characterized by sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy and poor concentration, besides feeling depressed. Lowest prevalence of MDE was in China (12%). The average age of depression in India is 31.9 years compared to 18.8 years in China, and 22.7 years in the US. The female: male ratio was about 2:1. "WHO ranks depression as the fourth leading cause of disability worldwide and projects that by 2020, it will be the second leading cause.