Depression has a starting point. At some point, the emotional trigger for depression was pulled. Research has long linked childhood parental loss with risk for major depression. Maternal separation in childhood has been shown to put one at risk for the development of psychiatric issues in adulthood. A study done with healthy adults who experienced childhood parental loss of a significant parent revealed an increase in adulthood mood and anxiety disorders. The effect of the loss was increased based on the quality of the relationship. The interesting revelation of this study was that depressive episodes were more prevalent in males than females. It is important to consider early life adversity when dealing with depression, for there is not a pill made that brings resolution to the underlying issues of loss.
Tyrka AR, Wier L, Price LH, Ross N, Anderson GM, Wilkinson CW, Carpenter LL. Childhood parental loss and adult hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function. Biol Psychiatry. 2008 Jun 15;63(12):1147-54. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.01.011. Epub 2008 Mar 12. PubMed PMID: 18339361; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2650434.- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18339361
