Somatic (physical factors)

Current or chronic illnesses (such as cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases or chronic pain), as well as various medications can cause depression. For example, drugs used to treat high blood pressure (beta-blockers), autoimmune disease (cortisone), chronic pain (especially novalgin and opioids), as well as severe acne (isoretinoin), hepatitis C (interferon alpha) or malaria (Lavam®) can trigger depression. Furthermore, light withdrawal (autumn and winter depression) also promotes depression.

Especially in the autumn and winter months, when there is little sunlight, many people feel very tired and lacking in drive, and often withdraw. The background: light controls the interaction of the body’s own hormones such as serotonin and melatonin. Sunlight leads to an increased release of the “happiness hormone” serotonin, which results in activity and a positive mood.

Darkness, on the other hand, causes the release of melatonin, the so-called sleep hormone, which makes people tired and listless. For this reason, sunlight and artificial light, which is very similar to sunlight, can help with depression. This type of therapy is called light therapy.

Other possible risk factors:

and serotonin deficiency – symptoms and therapy. – the female sex

Life in the big city
Alcohol or drug abuse
Unemployment and a low level of education
Single existence
Few social contacts
Migration (uprooting depression) – when migrants do not find social integration in the new country and feel isolated and lonely

Causes of pregnancy depression

So far there are no clearly identifiable causes that trigger pregnancy depression. Therefore, it cannot be predicted which woman will be affected by depression during pregnancy and which not. About 10% of pregnant women suffer from depression during pregnancy.

In most cases, the depressive symptoms are triggered by anxiety or an experience of being overwhelmed. The expectant mothers often worry a lot about whether they will be a good mother, how their motherhood will go and whether they are ready and mature enough to care for a child for the rest of their lives. This can develop into a negative spiral of thoughts that can become even worse and lead to depression. Such a depression occurs mainly in the first and last third of pregnancy.

Causes of postoperative depression

The term postoperative depression does not exist in German jargon. What is meant, however, is clear: after a stressful event, namely an operation, depressive symptoms occur. This is most likely to be what is known in the German psychiatric landscape as adaptation disorder.

The patients are suddenly confronted with a stressful event. They have an illness for which they need an operation. In the worst case this is a malignant disease.

In addition, they find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings, surrounded by strangers. They have to put their body in the hands of anaesthetists and surgeons and give up control for some time. This is very difficult for many people and can lead to an adjustment disorder after an operation, which is also described as postoperative depression.