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Depression of Dad might be passed on to kids

November 21st, 2011 . Posted in Depression | No Comments »
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Experts have established before that kids are more prone to mental problems when their mother experienced depression. But how about problems on the side of the dad?baba-cocuk

A new study which was able to look into a good representation of father and kids concludes that there is a 70% chance that kids may develop behavioral or emotional problem if the dad suffered from depression. This is a lower risk compared to having depressed mothers but it is still of significant concern.

The scenario is worse if both parents battles depression. Kids with mentally healthy parents only has 6% chances of having behavioral or emotional problems like feeling nervous, feeling sad, and clashing with members of the family and friends. The risk goes up to 11% if the dad is depressed, 19% when mother fights depression and about 25% when mom and dad are experiencing depression.

The study though does not clearly prove that mental problems with the parents are directly causing the mental problems in children. An earlier study has correlated the depression of the mother to be more influential to the mental development of the kid.

The proponents say that it is a basic premise that mental problems of the parents will affect the mental health of the children. They further explain that the genes play a good role in having depression and other mental problems passed on from parents to kids.

They also point out how kids look up to their parents as models so if one or both of the parents are depressed, then the children will be shaped by this.

The study involved 22,000 families still being managed by two parents. The families were interviewed about the mental health of each member.

This suggests that mental health practitioners should look at a bigger picture when one member of a family struggles with depression.

Five causes of depression that you might have not looked into

August 27th, 2011 . Posted in Depression | No Comments »
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When you think of depression, you might think of causes like getting fired from your job, grief, trauma, or financial worries. In case you are depressed and you cannot the see these as among the reasons, then it might be difficult to pinpoint the cause of your depression.

Here are some things that may actually cause depression:

Weather

About five percent of Americans suffer from winter blues or seasonal affective disorder. SAD usually occurs during winter but there is 1% of this population that suffers from depression during summer. Experts say that this is due to the body having difficulties in adapting to the new weather.

Smoking

It is like the egg or chicken question but studies show that depression prone individuals are more likely get into the habit of smoking. The nicotine in cigarettes affect the neurotransmitters in the brain which results to abnormal levels of serotonin and dopamine. As mood swings are connected to withdrawal, depression is also a common occurrence in people who try to stop smoking.

Stopping the habit may help balance the chemicals in the brain and avoid depression.

Poor sleeping habits

Lack of sleep leads to irritability and this ups the risks for depression. The lack of sleep leads to the brain not functioning as well which may eventually lead to depression.

Poor relationship with your siblings

A study showed that those who had relationship problems with their siblings before the age of twenty are more likely to experience depression later in their lives. Squabbles between siblings puts someone under great risk of getting depressed before reaching fifty.

City or country

It matters where you live too. There is a higher risk of suffering from depression if you live in an urban setting instead of settling in the rural areas. People living in the city tend to use the area of the brain which regulates stress and more stress means higher tendency for mental disorders.

Secondhand smoking may cause Depression

April 20th, 2009 . Posted in Depression, Smoking | No Comments »
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Secondhand smoking may not only bring respiratory system irritationAmerican Psychosomatic Society. Studies now show that it can also cause melancholic mood.

Persons who are nonsmokers that are exposed to the smoke of cigarettes at home, at work or at any public places are most likely to have a double chance of major depression than to those who are not exposed. That is according to the reports that are heard at the meet of the American Psychosomatic Society in Chicago. A similar study was done in Japan, and the same conclusion was arrived.

But compared to the Japanese research, the American study had verified exposure to cigarette smoke by the cotinine measurement. Cotinine is a chemical substance that is found in the bloodstream after inhaling smoke. In the federal health study, the cotinine levels in the blood are measuring for more than 3,000 in non-smoking adults.

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