What is Unipolar Depression?
- Unipolar Depression is characterised by progressive loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities, feelings of hopelessness without possibility of solution even in the future, suicidal thoughts or suicide itself. (WHO, 2009)
About Unipolar Depression.
- Depression alone accounts for a greater proportion of the causes of disability than the three biggest killers in the UK combined (Cancer,Cardio Vascular diseases and repiratory diseaes) 17% and 15% respectively (London School of Economics and Political sciences, 2006).
- 1 in 5 people will experience depression in their life (Deprerssion Alliance, 2009).
- Reduction in quality of life is comparable to that seen in major chronic physical diseases and the economic consequences are profound- £8billion each year in the UK (Gilbody et al, 2006, cited in Brunner 2009).
Research shows people in the UK have experienced substantial rises in anxiety and depression (Wilkinson and Pickett, 2009). It has been reported that the average child in the 1980s reported more anxiety than child psychiatirc patients in the 1950s (Twenge, 2000).
Who Experiences Depression?
Depression is more common among women than men. 1 in 4 women will require treatment for depression at some point, compared to 1 in 10 men (White, K 2002).
People from lower social classes are also at greater risk of depression. The British OPCS (office of population census and surveys) Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (Metzer et al, 1995) found higher rates of depression amoung men and women in lower occupational groups (Payne, 2006).
People from lower social classes are also at greater risk of depression. The British OPCS (office of population census and surveys) Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (Metzer et al, 1995) found higher rates of depression amoung men and women in lower occupational groups (Payne, 2006).
