Deep depression affects 1 in 5

Press, 25 August 1986, Page 30

Deep depression affects 1 in 5

PA Wellington Up to 20 per cent of the population suffer from serious depression at some time in their lives, says the deputy head of clinical services at the Wellington Psychiatric Unit, Dr Janice Wilson. It was important to differentiate between depression as a reaction to an event and depression as a disorder, Dr Wilson told a meeting at Lower Hutt’s Hillview Centre.

Loss of a friend, especially through death, caused depressive symptoms such as sadness, loss of appetite, falling down and a loss of pleasure. The length of time the symptoms remained was an indicator of their seriousness. A week could be expected, but three weeks might indicate serious depression, said Dr Wilson.

Further factors such as a sense of helplessness, a loss of interest, slow

movements and suicidal thoughts might be present. Loss was not the only trigger for depression. Biological, psychological, environmental and social factors could all be linked with depression, Dr Wilson said.

Whether women were more vunerable to depression was also hotly debated. Studies showed that married women had more psychiatric problems than married men, while single women suffered much less depression and single men much more. Women tended to be able to confide in friends more readily than men, but men often had their self-esteem boosted by having a wider circle of acquaintances. Loneliness made people more vulnerable at any stage of life, and elderly people were an especially

“at-risk” group, said Dr Wilson. Treatment often involved strengthening a depressed person’s family relationships and increasing opportunities to meet people. Anti-depressant drugs and electro-convulsive therapy were also used to treat the symptoms of depression.

In the past a depressed person might have remained ill for up to 10 years, but drugs and therapy now had an effect within weeks. However, medication might be required for six months or more, and full recovery might still take more than a year.

Constant research over 20 years had produced many drugs and much relief to sufferers, Dr Wilson said, but there were still no answers to many of the problems of depression.