Psychologist Yolanda Segovia talks about depression and its characteristics.

Depression is one of the most common disorders, and that is why it is important to know what it is like.

We have all felt sadness at some point in our lives, something that can be normal in situations that cause us a lot of pain. For example, when our partner leaves us or when we fail an exam that is important to us.

But But when sadness is prolonged over time and seriously affects our life, we may suffer from depression, a psychological disorder that should be treated as soon as possible. A psychological disorder that must be treated in order to regain our mental and emotional well-being.

We interviewed psychologist Yolanda Segovia.

Nowadays, depression is talked about with total normality, and statistics show that it affects 2.4 million people in Spain.

In today's article we interview Yolanda Segovia, collaborator at Intituto Mensalus in Barcelona, considered one of the best psychology clinics in our country, to help us understand what depression is and what we can do to overcome it.

Jonathan García-Allen: According to data from the World Health Organization, depression has increased notably in the last decade. What do you think is the cause of this fact?

Yolanda Segovia: Yes, it has increased notably, being one of the most prevalent mood disorders today. I believe that there is no single cause, but rather the interaction of biological, psychosocial and personality factors. If we are talking about the last 10 years, it may be due to the economic crisis that has led to job losses, generating numerous associated difficulties, but also to the increase in life expectancy, the higher level of stress we experience and the consumption of toxic substances. These could be factors that explain this growth, in addition to stressful life events, medical alterations or neurological disorders, among others.

What is the difference between sadness and depression?

Sadness is an emotion that arises from the feeling of loss, which can be of a loved one, a job, a breakup of a couple, a personal capacity... Depression, however, is a common mental disorder, where the constant manifestation of sadness is a characteristic, in addition to the loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyed, inability to carry out daily activities, for a continuous period of time.

They may also manifest some of the following symptoms: loss of energy, altered appetite, changes in sleep habits, difficulty concentrating, memorizing and/or maintaining attention, feelings of guilt or hopelessness, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

How can we identify if we are depressed?

We must present central symptoms of depression, such as pathological sadness, loss of interest and capacity for enjoyment, as well as decreased energy that conditions the level of activity and produces excessive exhaustion. In addition, we may observe irritability, pessimism about the future, loss of self-confidence or the aforementioned symptomatology.

We should also observe the persistence of symptoms over time and their severity, to differentiate a change in our usual functioning from clinically significant discomfort that involves deterioration in some area of our life.

It is common for many people to go to their family doctor when they experience the first symptoms of depression. However, scientific studies affirm that psychological help is key to overcoming this disorder. What are the benefits of seeing a psychologist when a person suffers from a depressive disorder?

Exactly, it is common for depression to be diagnosed and treated in primary care, although sometimes the patient is referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist.

It is beneficial to go to a psychologist because the intervention allows for a holistic treatment, addressing thoughts, emotions and behaviors and promoting changes that allow a more adaptive functioning of the person suffering from a depressive disorder, also taking into account the work on relapse prevention. Another benefit that I think is important to highlight is that the process will be person-centered, thus considering individual differences.

How effective is psychotherapy in these cases?

Psychotherapy has shown similar or even slightly better efficacy, according to some studies, than pharmacological treatments.

Although combined treatment is frequent and effective, there are numerous analyses that consider that psychological therapy should be the treatment of choice, since it shows a slightly higher percentage of efficacy than pharmacological therapy, lacks the adverse effects of the latter and works in relapse prevention. While it is true that the severity of the depression must be taken into account.

**When a person suffers from depression, is it essential to take drugs? **

It depends on the severity of the depressive episode, in severe cases the combined approach seems the most appropriate, while in mild or moderate episodes psychotherapy may be sufficient.

What types of depression are there?

I think that a very broad but clear way of differentiating the types of depression would be to distinguish between endogenous or Biological depression and non-endogenous or reactive depression. The former is mainly influenced by the genetic component and less by external factors, while the latter, of psychological origin, is influenced by the lack of adaptation to external stressors. We can also differentiate dysthymia, which is of chronic evolution and is related to personality characteristics.

In addition, another possible classification would be to specify in detail the different depressive disorders according to the DSM-5 diagnostic manual, which in its latest revision considers several types of depressive disorders, with bipolar disorder and related disorders as a distinct diagnostic category.

Can we do anything to prevent the onset of depression?

Some protective factors against depression may be to have a good self-esteem, to recognize and trust in our own resources, to appreciate the small details of our life, to have a relational network that values us, supports us and makes us feel good. Also, living in the present, valuing what we have and not putting all our attention on what we lack. As well as doing physical exercise and dedicating time to pleasurable activities.

How can family members help a person with depression?

For a person with depression it is transcendental the support of his close environment, the understanding of his situation, the respect and the acceptance of his difficulties. It is important that family members recognize how depression manifests itself, what its symptoms and risks are in order to be able to attend to them or request urgent help if necessary, it may also be necessary to know the effects of medication, if taken.

Even if the symptoms presented by the family member make it difficult to live together, it is important that they trust that they will disappear with the appropriate treatment, and above all that they do not believe that they are behaving in this way to attract attention or to annoy. If in doubt, it is always best to consult a professional.

They can also help the family member by encouraging them to seek help and to follow the guidelines agreed upon in the therapeutic process that will contribute to their improvement, and/or ask for family assistance to help them learn together effective ways to cope with depression.

What advice would you give to a person going through this situation?

I would suggest that you seek help to take the necessary steps to reduce your suffering. Also, I would encourage you to choose, introduce or maintain in your life only what is good for you.