The etiologic features of depression in adults.Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association
Over the past 30 years, considerable advances have been made in
understanding the origin of depression. The explosion of knowledge includes
studies on genetics, animal models of depression, neurotransmitter and
neuroendocrine studies, and psychological and sociological risk factors.
Depression, like other medical illnesses, presents with a wide spectrum of
syndromes and severity. Most clinicians support a risk factor model that
reflects the varying contributions of biological (including genetic),
psychological, and environmental factors. This article reviews the research
on the etiologic factors in depression.
