The endogenous depression is a mood disorder characterized by a depressed mood without it occurring due to any external cause. On the contrary, the stressor that causes the problem has its origin in the individual himself; and can be either cognitive or biological.
It is a relatively rare type of depression. People who suffer from it usually have problems in their serotonin circuit or with other types of neurotransmitters; although sometimes the causes are more related to the presence of a large number of irrational beliefs or other psychological problems.
Because the causes of endogenous depression are not apparent, it can sometimes be difficult to diagnose and treat. Often times, people with this disorder will begin to experience their symptoms without there appears to be any cause. This is in contrast to reactive depression, which is triggered by a specific event.
The latest diagnostic manuals used by psychologists around the world have stopped differentiating between exogenous and endogenous depression, and they all diagnose them as "major depression.".
However, it can be useful to understand what the characteristics of this disorder are, as well as its consequences and possible solutions to it..
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The symptoms of endogenous depression are very similar to those of other types of mood disorders. The main difference with the others is that this problem appears without an apparent external cause, rather than due to a specific stressful event.
People with endogenous depression feel extremely sad and hopeless consistently, for most of the day and for a long period of time. This sadness goes beyond a simple everyday emotion, and is much more disabling.
For example, individuals with this problem often have irrational beliefs; for example, they think that their situation will never improve, that they will always feel miserable, and that they cannot do anything to improve. Crying, constant complaints, anguish and despair are also frequent..
In the most extreme cases, recurrent thoughts about suicide or even suicidal ideations may appear; that is, the person thinks about how they would like to take their own life and the details about the way in which they would carry out this action.
One of the most important changes that depressed mood entails is that the person feels unable to enjoy everything that previously gave them pleasure.
For example, they often give up their hobbies and hobbies, lose interest in sex, and significantly reduce their level of activity..
Thus, the most common is that people with endogenous depression dedicate themselves only to tasks that do not require great effort, and that provide an immediate reward. Some examples would be watching television, surfing the Internet, drinking alcohol, or eating unhealthy food..
In general, this symptom also causes the person to stop being interested in their social relationships. In general, those with endogenous depression are at great risk of ending up isolated and without a support group.
In addition to the loss of interest in enjoyable activities, people with endogenous depression also do not usually feel like trying to achieve their goals.
Often they feel adrift, as if they are going nowhere; and they find it very difficult to work on their goals or even set them.
On the other hand, these individuals typically feel extremely fatigued and lacking in energy, making it even more difficult for them to focus on their daily tasks. Your attention and ability to concentrate are also negatively affected by this disorder..
Vital functions are also affected when endogenous depression appears. In terms of food intake, people with this disorder can either exaggerately increase the amount they eat, or lose their appetite almost completely..
Something similar happens with regard to sleep. Some people with this type of depression have serious problems sleeping and hardly get any rest at night. Others, on the contrary, sleep much more than usual, but are still fatigued.
Finally, it is also common for people who suffer from endogenous depression to have all kinds of body pain. Some of the most common are headaches, back pain, stomach discomfort or muscle aches..
Some experts distinguish between endogenous depression caused by purely biological causes (such as a deficiency of some type of neurotransmitter) and that which has more to do with an altered thought pattern.
However, the most common is that people with this disorder have alterations in both their thinking and their brain chemistry. In fact, both factors seem to be directly related.
Due to this, nowadays no differentiation is usually made between different types of endogenous depressions. Rather, they are all diagnosed equally, and the only real difference between different patients is the treatment that is believed to be most helpful..
As with most mental disorders, it is not known exactly what causes endogenous depression to develop. Normally, it is considered that there is no single factor that causes it, but that it is a combination of different circumstances.
The causes of endogenous depression can be genetic, biological, psychological, or environmental; although usually all of them will be present to a greater or lesser extent when this disorder occurs.
Various investigations with families suggest that all types of depression have a strong genetic component; but this is especially true in the case of those that are not caused by external factors.
Thus, from birth, some people seem to be more predisposed to developing this mood disorder..
For example, it is known that the simple fact of having a close relative who has suffered some type of depression throughout his life greatly increases the chances of suffering from this problem as well..
Today, we know that substances produced in our brain known as neurotransmitters have a huge influence on the way we feel.
In endogenous depression, the levels of some of them are altered, which could be a fundamental factor in explaining most of the symptoms.
Of all the neurotransmitters that exist, those most related to the onset of depression are serotonin and dopamine. When either of these two substances is present in a lower amount than usual in the brain, it is common for the person to experience symptoms similar to those of this disorder.
We also know that low levels of certain substances in the body, such as testosterone or vitamin D, can be behind some types of endogenous depression..
However, more research is needed to understand exactly how they influence.
One of the main causes of any mood disorder is the person's way of thinking. For a few decades, it has been known that internal dialogue has a great influence on the way we feel.
In fact, some research shows that it can even change our brain chemistry..
Thus, some ways of thinking make endogenous depression much more likely. For example, the belief that things will never get better, or constantly reflecting on one's own problems can lead to this psychological disorder over time..
On the other hand, there are certain personality characteristics that also influence the appearance of this problem. Of all of them, probably the one most closely related to depression is neuroticism.
It is a trait shared by those whose emotions are more powerful and volatile than normal..
Other traits such as lack of resilience, pessimism or even introversion could contribute to the onset of endogenous depression throughout a person's life.
Finally, certain lifestyles make the development of endogenous depression more likely. Some of the most important factors of this type are sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, lack of sleep, work stress or lack of adequate social support.
Often these factors are not enough to cause a mental disorder on their own. However, they can increase a person's chances of suffering one of them if any other cause is present..
Mood disorders can have devastating effects on the quality of life of those who suffer from them. In the case of endogenous depression, these consequences can be especially serious.
Because the causes of this disorder are internal, if they are not solved, the person may suffer recurrent depressive episodes throughout their existence.
This usually has very negative effects on different areas, such as work, personal relationships, and even health.
When an individual suffers from endogenous depression, he is practically unable to enjoy his surroundings. In addition, these people usually cannot solve the problem on their own, so they frequently need to resort to some type of professional help to improve their quality of life..
In the most serious cases, the consequences can include problems such as addictions of all kinds (for example, to alcohol or gambling), loss of socioeconomic status (in the case of losing your job or source of income), or even suicide.
The causes of endogenous depression are primarily internal rather than related to events in the person's life.
Even so, all the investigations in this regard have confirmed that this mental disorder responds perfectly to the same treatments as other similar problems.
Basically, there are four approaches that can be followed to alleviate the symptoms of people with endogenous depression and improve their quality of life: lifestyle changes, medication, psychotherapies, and electroconvulsive therapy. The choice of one or the other will depend on the severity of the symptoms and the characteristics of the patient..
One of the best actions that a person suffering from endogenous depression can take is to change some of their habits and replace them with more empowering ones. Certain lifestyles make the development of a mood disorder much less likely than others.
Thus, activities such as frequent physical exercise, exposure to the sun to increase vitamin D levels in the blood, form a good social circle of support, eat healthy and sleep well can make the difference between a mildly depressed mood and a normal one.
Another option when treating endogenous depression is to use some type of psychotropic drug that alters brain chemistry and returns it to normal..
Medical treatments appear to be more effective against this psychological disorder than against similar ones, which supports the hypothesis that its causes are mainly internal.
The most effective medications for long-term depression are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors..
The way in which they work is by increasing the levels of this neurotransmitter in the brain, thus alleviating most of the symptoms of the disorder..
Some psychological therapies also appear to be very effective in fighting endogenous depression. Specifically, the most useful have been shown to be cognitive-behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy..
Both work by helping the person to change their way of thinking, in such a way that the symptoms gradually diminish until they disappear. This approach is often combined with the use of medication to achieve the best result..
Finally, the technique of applying small electrical shocks to the brain using electrodes appears to be especially effective in changing thought patterns and altered levels of neurotransmitters that cause endogenous depression..
This type of treatment has evolved a lot in recent years, and does not present any danger to patients. In fact, many specialists believe that in the future it will be one of the best options when it comes to ending problems of this type.
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