Abstract
The authors aim to present a narrative review of research on the inflammatory aetiology of depression. Depression is a psychiatric disorder, constituting the most common reason of disability due to a health condition. It has been estimated that at least one in six people suffer from depression at some point of their lives. The aetiology of depression, although researched extensively all around the world, still remains unclear. Authors discuss the possible role of inflammation in depression, the neurodevelopmental theory of depression as well as associations between cognition and depression. Possible associations between memory dysfunction among depressive patients and inflammatory markers are included. The associations between the immune system, depression and cognition are observed. Possible mediating factors between these areas include personality traits, hormonal imbalance and functioning of the brain areas. The question as to what mediating factors are involved is still open to research.
Highlights
Depression is a psychiatric disorder, constituting the most common reason of disability due to a health condition
As early as 1990, depression was found to be the first cause of disability in the world and, according to WHO, by 2020 it was the second leading cause of disability resulting from a health condition in the world and the most common cause of death in every age group [2]
A depressive episode is characterized by a period of depressed mood or diminished interest in activities occurring most of the day, nearly every day during a period lasting at least two weeks, accompanied by other symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt, hopelessness, recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, changes in appetite or sleep, psychomotor agitation or retardation and reduced energy or fatigue
Summary
Depression is a psychiatric disorder, constituting the most common reason of disability due to a health condition. As early as 1990, depression was found to be the first cause of disability in the world and, according to WHO, by 2020 it was the second leading cause of disability resulting from a health condition in the world and the most common cause of death in every age group [2]. Depression is a risk factor of many complications, of which the most dangerous is suicide [6], and a reason of severe suffering among the people affected as well as their loved ones.
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