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Endogenous depression is a specific type of depression that has not been triggered by past traumatic experiences, but is due to a malfunction of neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. What are the causes of this disorder and how is endogenous depression manifested? What methods are used to treat patients struggling with endogenous depression?
What is endogenous depression?
Depression is a disease that affects an increasing percentage of people in the world every year. The endogenous type of depression is that it occurs as a result of internal factors. Endogenous depression is caused by an abnormal number of transmitters in the nervous system, but it can also occur as a result of structural problems in the brain. Endogenous depression is the opposite of exogenous depression, which can develop under the influence of external factors, such as traumatic events, e.g. death of a loved one or serious illness. Endogenous depression may take the form of: depressive episodes, recurrent depressive disorders, dysthymia, post-schizophrenic depression or organic depressive disorders.
Endogenous depression – causes
Very often, endogenous depression is defined as a disorder that came out of nowhere. Both the patient and his environment are unable to understand where and why the depressive disorders occurred. Serotonin deficiency in the brain is considered to be a factor that could be responsible for the appearance of depression. This disorder causes nervous and mental disorders in the patient, which is accompanied by other somatic symptoms that are in no way related to the actual state of health of the patient. In the case of endogenous depression, we can also talk about genetic determinants. This means that a much greater risk of developing endogenous depression concerns those whose family members suffered from this type of disorder or struggled with suicidal thoughts.
- Do a simple test to see if you may be depressed
Endogenous depression – symptoms
Despite the difficult to define causes of endogenous depression, it is much easier to point to the characteristic symptoms of this disorder. Specialists most often indicate:
- general melancholy;
- significant depressed mood;
- not reacting to positive events;
- smoothing out emotions;
- negligible reactivity to external stimuli;
- slow movements;
- lack of interest in the surrounding reality;
- persistent guilt;
- thoughts of suicide and in some cases attempted suicide;
- problems with concentration;
- loss of interest;
- physical disorders;
- insomnia;
- lack of appetite.
Some people with endogenous depression also develop somatic symptoms. The most common are:
- accelerated heartbeat;
- pain in the chest;
- stomach disorders;
- pain in bones, muscles and joints;
- chronic headaches or migraine;
- menstrual disorders in women;
- skin rashes or other skin lesions.
Endogenous depression – treatment methods
Treatment of endogenous depression is based on taking appropriate medications. The patient is taking antidepressants, which are serotonin reuptake inhibitors or tricyclic drugs. For the treatment to be effective, along with pharmacotherapy, psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral therapy are used. Systemic family therapy is also gaining more and more popularity.
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