| Risk Factors Depression is a mental illness marked by feelings
of profound sadness and lack of interest in activities.
Depression is not the same as a blue mood. It is a persistent
low mood that interferes with the ability to function and
appreciate things in life. It may cause a wide range of
symptoms, both physical and emotional. It can last for weeks,
months, or years. People with depression rarely recover without
treatment. While the exact cause is not known, factors that may
play a role in depression include: - Having a family history of
depression (genetic link) - Having a certain type of brain
chemistry - Experiencing stressful or traumatic life events (eg,
death in the family, divorce, job loss) Copyright © Nucleus
Medical Media, Inc. There are a range of factors that may
increase your risk of depression. Examples include: - Gender:
female - Previous episode of depression - Hormonal changes
Chronic conditions (eg, type 2 diabetes , heart disease, cancer,
chronic pain, Other conditions related to men