Last year alone, 5.5 million Britons took antidepressants, according to research just published by scientists at the universities of Warwick and Stirling.
Bereavement, money and relationship worries are among the well-known triggers, says chartered psychologist Dr Rick Norris, founder of Mind Health Development and a practising NHS clinician.
As much as they might cheer us up at the time, comfort foods such as doughnuts can be bad for the waistline and for mental well-being
However, there are many other causes, for which medication might not be the only answer.
For, as the experts reveal, our everyday activities - from what we eat to our exposure to the sun - can also lead to low mood...
HOT WEATHER
Most people will be cheered by this week’s weather, but for many thousands of others, it means one thing: depression.
That’s because they suffer from the summer form of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) — here, depression is triggered not by lack of sun, but by too much of it. Up to 600,000 Britons are thought to suffer from ‘summer SAD’.
It’s thought to be linked to sensitivity to heat and hormonal imbalances — one theory is that when it’s hot the body produces less of the thyroid hormone, leading to a lack of energy.
Another theory is that hot weather reduces the ability to cope with mental stress.
Up to 600,000 Britons are thought to suffer from 'summer SAD'. It's thought to be linked to sensitivity to heat and hormonal imbalances
‘In people with summer depression, you see a decreased appetite and insomnia; with winter depression, you get an increased appetite and increased sleep,’ explains Dr Alfred Lewy, director of the sleep and mood disorders laboratory at Oregon Health and Science University.
There is also an increase in the suicide rate during hot weather — analysis of more than 50,000 suicides in England and Wales between 1993 and 2003 showed the suicide rate rose once the average daily temperature reached 18C. This could be linked to a drop in the brain’s levels of serotonin, the ‘happy hormone’, which can dip in the summer months.
‘There are likely to be several factors involved,’ says lead researcher Dr Lisa Page, of Kings College London’s Institute of Psychiatry.
‘People tend to drink more alcohol in summer — not only does it have a depressive effect, it also disinhibits us, so we are more likely to act impulsively. Hot weather also disturbs sleep and this could possibly tip someone over the edge.’
THE PILL
Women taking birth control pills are almost twice as likely to be depressed as those who don’t, according to a 2005 study from Monash University, Australia.
‘It’s entirely possible that the Pill can change mood in some women who are sensitive to it,’ says Dr Ailsa Gebbie, vice-president of the faculty of sexual and reproductive health at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
‘We don’t know why, but it’s thought to be linked to the serotonin pathways in the brain. On the other hand, hormonal contraceptives can also be very helpful for treating PMT.’
The sugar crash that follows eating a doughnut can make you feel worse
DOUGHNUTS
As much as they might cheer us up at the time, comfort foods such as doughnuts can be bad for the waistline and for mental well-being.
‘We tend to crave sugary and fatty foods for a quick mood fix, but the sugar crash that follows could make you feel worse,’ explains Helen Bond, of the British Dietetic Association.
‘Our mood is determined by a steady supply of energy from blood glucose to the brains.’
Information is carried between the cells by chemicals such as dopamine. Rising levels of dopamine can boost mood; falling levels are linked to sadness.
While it’s best to eat foods that release their energy slowly, such as wholegrain bread, ‘if you fancy something sweet, chocolate might do the job,’ adds Helen Bond.
‘A neurotransmitter called phenylethylamine is thought to be released from eating it, leading to feelings of alertness. Choose chocolate with more than 85 per cent cocoa to avoid the sugar crash.’
STREET LIGHTS
Too much light in the bedroom —from street lights, a night light or even the glow of a TV screen — can have a negative effect on the brain, scientists at Ohio State University have found.
In animal studies, they discovered that exposure to dim light at night over time can cause changes in the hippocampus, an area of the brain linked with depression — hamsters who’d been affected showed depressive symptoms, such as failing to eat treats.
TEA AND COFFEE
‘I’m always amazed by the number of people I see who feel depressed because of sleep problems, yet who drink endless cups of tea and coffee, even late into the evening,’ says Dr William Shanahan, executive medical director at Capio Nightingale.
‘They feel utterly miserable because they can’t sleep at night and feel dreadful the next day.
‘It’s remarkably common. The golden rule is no caffeine after 4pm — an espresso after dinner can be fatal for your sleep.’
BLOOD PRESSURE PILLS
Some beta-blockers for high blood pressure (such as propranolol), and retinoids, which treat skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis, have been linked with depression.
‘We are now fairly confident that beta-blockers can cause depression in some people,’ says Professor David Taylor, director of pharmacology and pathology at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
‘The same goes for Roaccutane, which is prescribed for acne, and possibly interferon, used in multiple sclerosis and hepatitis patients. What isn’t clear is why these drugs may be having this effect.’
Smoking may increase the risk of severe depression by 93 per cent
CIGARETTES
Smoking may increase the risk of severe depression by 93 per cent, scientists at the University of Melbourne found.
The study of 1,043 women, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, found that of those who were smokers, 15 per cent went on to develop major depressive disorder, compared to 6.5 per cent of non-smokers.
‘Nicotine creates a sense of relaxation, so people smoke in the belief that it reduces stress and anxiety, but this is only temporary,’ says Dr Eva Cyhlarova, head of research at the Mental Health Foundation.
Nicotine stimulates the release of dopamine, the feel-good brain chemical.
While this temporarily increases the supply, it also encourages the brain to switch off its own mechanism for making dopamine, so in the long-term the supply decreases.
OVERACTIVE THYROID
A common cause of low mood or depression is an overactive thyroid (increased activity of the thyroid gland), which affects elderly people in particular, says Dr Mark Vanderpump, consultant endocrinologist at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
‘A simple blood test from your GP can rule this out. The most common cause of an overactive thyroid is Grave’s disease — by producing too many hormones, you can feel irritable.’
THE INTERNET
In a study in China last year of 1,000 teenagers, those who used the internet excessively were found to be two and a half times more likely to develop depression.
‘Our lives are being invaded by technology and this can be exhausting for the brain,’ says Dr Richard Graham, an expert in technology addiction at Capio Nightingale Hospital, London.
‘If you are constantly on the internet or phone, it can bring about symptoms of depression.
‘You can become less confident in real social situations as you become more confident in virtual worlds. If you’re spending more than two hours a day using the internet, and it’s not for work reasons, you have cause for alarm.’
VEGETARIAN DIET
There’s evidence to suggest that a lack of unsaturated fatty acids — compounds found in oily fish — may contribute to depression, says Dr Eva Cyhlarova, of the Mental Health Foundation.
Earlier this year, U.S. scientists found that women who took fish oil during pregnancy had a lower risk of post-natal depression.
‘My worry is that vegetarians may struggle with getting an adequate supply of these important nutrients. While some nuts and seeds provide fatty acids, the body has to convert them. The problem is that nutrients are lost in this process.’
PROCRASTINATING
While depression can cause us to procrastinate, poor time management can also be a trigger, says clinical psychologist Dr Funke Baffour.
‘Leaving everything until the end of the day means you feel as though everything is spiralling out of control. Working in the evening will also knock out things that can help stave off depression, such as eating a healthy dinner and spending time with family.’
ATKINS DIET
Carbohydrates raise the level of the ‘feel-good’ brain chemical serotonin, helping you feel happy, content and combating low mood, says Helen Bond.
Conversely, low-carb dieters are susceptible to mood swings, according to researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston.
Scientists there have found that a lack of carbohydrates causes the brain to stop regulating serotonin, causing feelings of anger and depression — dubbed ‘Atkins attitude’, after the famous low-carb Atkins diet.
Women who undergo plastic surgery are up to three times more likely to kill themselves
COSMETIC SURGERY
People who’ve had cosmetic surgery can sometimes suffer from depression a year or two later, says Dr Mark Vanderpump.
Women who undergo plastic surgery are up to three times more likely to kill themselves, according to research published in the journal Current Psychiatry Reports.
Cosmetic surgery patients also had a three-times higher rate of death due to self-destructive acts, such as binge-drinking.
‘It might be that these people don’t like the results or that they struggle to accept their new look,’ says Dr Vanderpump. ( dailymail.co.uk )
Blog : Shadow Of Death | Why doughnuts can make you depressed...and the other surprising, everyday triggers that can cause depression
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