Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Causes Depression: Current UnderstandingsChemical Imbalance: An Incomplete ExplanationWhat Causes Severe Depression Symptoms?Secondary Causes of DepressionFeeling Depressed Without a Clear CauseDepression Causes in Children and TeensSpeaking to a Provider About Your DepressionNext in Depression Guide9 Common Depression Triggers (and How to Manage Them)

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Causes Depression: Current Understandings

Chemical Imbalance: An Incomplete Explanation

What Causes Severe Depression Symptoms?

Secondary Causes of Depression

Feeling Depressed Without a Clear Cause

Depression Causes in Children and Teens

Speaking to a Provider About Your Depression

Next in Depression Guide

There is no single cause ofdepression. Instead, there are several potential risk factors for depression, withgeneticsand biological, environmental, and psychological factors all contributing. Depression can occur alongside other mental or physical illnesses, following traumatic life events, or independently. Sometimes, the cause is unknown.

This article discusses the most common causes of depression, explores some of the less common ones, and explains when it’s time to see a healthcare provider for treatment.

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Sad senior man sitting on floor of the bedroom at home

While there is no clear, singular cause of depression, certain factors have been linked to the condition. For example, people who experiencechildhood traumaorabuseare more likely to develop depression. Also, people with one or more blood relatives who experience depression are more at risk.

Abuse or Trauma

This connection betweenabuse, trauma, and depression is not limited to childhood. Depression can happen as a result of abuse or trauma, regardless of age.

Genetic Predisposition

While depression can run in families—having a blood relative with depression increases your risk—scientists have not linked any specific gene to depression.

One systematic review found that in more than 60% ofmajor depressive disordercases, genetics was not the primary cause.The researchers in this review believed this percentage to be even lower for depression not diagnosed as a major depressive disorder.

Mental Health Disorders

Higher rates of depression are linked to othermental healthconditions. For example, depression andanxietyoften co-occur. Research shows that over 70% of people with depression also have anxiety symptoms.This does not mean that one causes the other; instead, people who face one are more likely to experience the other.

Depression is linked tochemical imbalancesin the brain. However, a correlation between chemical imbalances in the brain and depression does not imply causality. Meaning that just because they are related does not mean that chemical imbalances directly cause depression.

Our thoughts can change the chemical balance of our brains. For example, gratitude practices promoteserotoninanddopamine—chemical messengers that promote positive emotions.These brain chemicals help you process your feelings and prevent depression symptoms. People with depression have lower serotonin and dopamine levels.

Adverse life experiences can also impact our thought patterns and contribute to depression. So, yes, chemical imbalances can play a role in depression, but it’s important to consider other contributing factors, too.

What Does Endogenous Depression Mean?

Researchers are still working to understand why some people experience more severe depression symptoms than others since the underlying causes are the same. Severe depression can lead to thoughts and attempts of suicide.

Risk factors of severe depression symptoms are categorized into four different areas:

Severe depression symptoms include:

A subtype of depression calledtreatment-resistant depressionhappens to about 30% of people with depression.It occurs when depression symptoms remain after trying various treatments.

If you experience treatment-resistant depression, continue working with a healthcare provider to find an effective treatment plan. Sometimes, it can include multiple approaches, such as taking medications long enough for them to build up to an effective dose, education, lifestyle changes, andpsychotherapy.

Depression affects about 5% of adults—4% of men and 6% of women.There are often multiple causes that can result in depression.

For example, a woman who experienced trauma during childhood is more likely to experiencepostpartum depression.In this case, the depression causes are trauma, pregnancy, andchildbirth.

Here are some other examples of secondary causes of depression.

Life Events Linked to Depression

Research shows that people who experience life events associated with higher levels of stress are more likely to have depression symptoms.Some examples of stressful life events include:

Chronic Disease

Living with a chronic (long-term) disease increases the risk of depression. More than 10% of people withcancerexperience depression.Up to half of those with autoimmune diseases experience depression symptoms.Individuals struggling with chronic pain, thyroid disease, diabetes, and heart disease are also more likely to suffer from depression.

Coping with physical symptoms that affect your daily life for months or years can be physically and mentally challenging. However, there are many things people with chronic diseases can do to improve their quality of life and decrease the risk of depression.

Location or Life Situation

Your geographic location can impact your risk for depression. For example, people who live in the Appalachian and southern Mississippi Valley areas experience the highest rates of depression in the United States.

There isn’t always a clear cause for depression. Hormonal changes—such as those that happen to women duringpuberty, perimenopause, andmenopause—can contribute to depression but are not as apparent as other causes.

Seasonal changes—usually those occurring in the late fall and winter—can lead to a type of depression called “seasonal affective disorder.”

Certainnutrient deficiencies, such as too little omega-3 fatty acid, vitamin B or D, magnesium, iron, or zinc, can also impact depression.Even when the cause is unknown, a healthcare provider can still treat your depression.

The causes of depression among children and teens are similar to those in adults. Depression may result from a combination of factors, such as challenges at school, bullying, and family or home life difficulties.

Social media is a significant risk factor for depression, with the chances of experiencing mental health challenges such asanxietyor depression being twice as high among children and teens who use social media for three or more hours per day.

Parents and other adults should communicate with children and teens aboutmental healthin a supportive way.

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of depression or another mental health condition, help is available. If you have a primary care provider, ask them for a referral. They can help you find a mental health provider, such as apsychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, orcounselor. You can also find a therapistonline.

When seeking help, it is essential to be honest with your provider and share your thoughts, feelings, concerns, and relevant life events openly.

Summary

There are various causes for depression, and sometimes, the cause is unknown. Some factors that increase your risk for depression include abuse or trauma, chronic health conditions, having a genetic predisposition, and stressful life events. It is important to seek the support of a qualified healthcare provider to discuss your depression symptoms and learn about treatment options.

21 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Depression.Mandelli L, Petrelli C, Serretti A.The role of specific early trauma in adult depression: a meta-analysis of published literature. Childhood trauma and adult depression.Eur Psychiatry. 2015;30(6):665-680. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2015.04.007Penner-Goeke S, Binder EB.Epigenetics and depression.Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience. 2019;21(4):397-405. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2019.21.4/ebinderZhiguo WU, Yiru FANG.Comorbidity of depressive and anxiety disorders: challenges in diagnosis and assessment.Shanghai Arch. Psychiatry. 2014(4): 227–231. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-0829.2014.04.006Penn Medicine Princeton Health.Can gratitude improve quality of life?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Risk and protective factors.Johns Hopkins.Major depression.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Treatment-resistant depression.World Health Organization.Depressive disorder (depression).Godbout N, Paradis A, Rassart CA, Sadikaj G, Herba CM, Drapeau-Lamothe M.Parents’ history of childhood interpersonal trauma and postpartum depressive symptoms: The moderating role of mindfulness.Journal of Affective Disorders. 2023;325:459-469. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.007Gronewold J, Duman EE, Engel M, et al.Association between life events and later depression in the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study—the role of sex and optimism.PLoS ONE. 2022;17(7):e0271716. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0271716Smith HR.Depression in cancer patients: pathogenesis, implications and treatment (review).Oncology Letters. 2015;9(4):1509-1514. doi:10.3892/ol.2015.2944Pryce CR, Fontana A.Depression in autoimmune diseases. In: Dantzer R, Capuron L, eds.Inflammation-Associated Depression: Evidence, Mechanisms and Implications. Vol 31. Springer International Publishing; 2016:139-154. doi:doi.org/10.1007/7854_2016_7National Institute of Mental Health.Chronic illness and mental health: recognizing and treating depression.Lee B.National, state-level, and county-level prevalence estimates of adults aged ≥18 years self-reporting a lifetime diagnosis of depression — United States, 2020.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023;72. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7224a1Melrose S.Seasonal Affective Disorder: an overview of assessment and treatment approaches.Depress Res Treat.2015;2015:178564. doi:10.1155/2015/178564.Zielińska M, Łuszczki E, Dereń K.Dietary nutrient deficiencies and risk of depression(Review Article 2018–2023).Nutrients. 2023;15(11):2433. doi:10.3390/nu15112433National Health Service.Depression in children and young people.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Social media and youth mental health.National Institute of Mental Health.Tips for talking with a healthcare provider about your mental health.

21 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Depression.Mandelli L, Petrelli C, Serretti A.The role of specific early trauma in adult depression: a meta-analysis of published literature. Childhood trauma and adult depression.Eur Psychiatry. 2015;30(6):665-680. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2015.04.007Penner-Goeke S, Binder EB.Epigenetics and depression.Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience. 2019;21(4):397-405. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2019.21.4/ebinderZhiguo WU, Yiru FANG.Comorbidity of depressive and anxiety disorders: challenges in diagnosis and assessment.Shanghai Arch. Psychiatry. 2014(4): 227–231. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-0829.2014.04.006Penn Medicine Princeton Health.Can gratitude improve quality of life?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Risk and protective factors.Johns Hopkins.Major depression.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Treatment-resistant depression.World Health Organization.Depressive disorder (depression).Godbout N, Paradis A, Rassart CA, Sadikaj G, Herba CM, Drapeau-Lamothe M.Parents’ history of childhood interpersonal trauma and postpartum depressive symptoms: The moderating role of mindfulness.Journal of Affective Disorders. 2023;325:459-469. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.007Gronewold J, Duman EE, Engel M, et al.Association between life events and later depression in the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study—the role of sex and optimism.PLoS ONE. 2022;17(7):e0271716. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0271716Smith HR.Depression in cancer patients: pathogenesis, implications and treatment (review).Oncology Letters. 2015;9(4):1509-1514. doi:10.3892/ol.2015.2944Pryce CR, Fontana A.Depression in autoimmune diseases. In: Dantzer R, Capuron L, eds.Inflammation-Associated Depression: Evidence, Mechanisms and Implications. Vol 31. Springer International Publishing; 2016:139-154. doi:doi.org/10.1007/7854_2016_7National Institute of Mental Health.Chronic illness and mental health: recognizing and treating depression.Lee B.National, state-level, and county-level prevalence estimates of adults aged ≥18 years self-reporting a lifetime diagnosis of depression — United States, 2020.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023;72. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7224a1Melrose S.Seasonal Affective Disorder: an overview of assessment and treatment approaches.Depress Res Treat.2015;2015:178564. doi:10.1155/2015/178564.Zielińska M, Łuszczki E, Dereń K.Dietary nutrient deficiencies and risk of depression(Review Article 2018–2023).Nutrients. 2023;15(11):2433. doi:10.3390/nu15112433National Health Service.Depression in children and young people.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Social media and youth mental health.National Institute of Mental Health.Tips for talking with a healthcare provider about your mental health.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Depression.Mandelli L, Petrelli C, Serretti A.The role of specific early trauma in adult depression: a meta-analysis of published literature. Childhood trauma and adult depression.Eur Psychiatry. 2015;30(6):665-680. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2015.04.007Penner-Goeke S, Binder EB.Epigenetics and depression.Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience. 2019;21(4):397-405. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2019.21.4/ebinderZhiguo WU, Yiru FANG.Comorbidity of depressive and anxiety disorders: challenges in diagnosis and assessment.Shanghai Arch. Psychiatry. 2014(4): 227–231. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-0829.2014.04.006Penn Medicine Princeton Health.Can gratitude improve quality of life?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Risk and protective factors.Johns Hopkins.Major depression.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Treatment-resistant depression.World Health Organization.Depressive disorder (depression).Godbout N, Paradis A, Rassart CA, Sadikaj G, Herba CM, Drapeau-Lamothe M.Parents’ history of childhood interpersonal trauma and postpartum depressive symptoms: The moderating role of mindfulness.Journal of Affective Disorders. 2023;325:459-469. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.007Gronewold J, Duman EE, Engel M, et al.Association between life events and later depression in the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study—the role of sex and optimism.PLoS ONE. 2022;17(7):e0271716. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0271716Smith HR.Depression in cancer patients: pathogenesis, implications and treatment (review).Oncology Letters. 2015;9(4):1509-1514. doi:10.3892/ol.2015.2944Pryce CR, Fontana A.Depression in autoimmune diseases. In: Dantzer R, Capuron L, eds.Inflammation-Associated Depression: Evidence, Mechanisms and Implications. Vol 31. Springer International Publishing; 2016:139-154. doi:doi.org/10.1007/7854_2016_7National Institute of Mental Health.Chronic illness and mental health: recognizing and treating depression.Lee B.National, state-level, and county-level prevalence estimates of adults aged ≥18 years self-reporting a lifetime diagnosis of depression — United States, 2020.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023;72. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7224a1Melrose S.Seasonal Affective Disorder: an overview of assessment and treatment approaches.Depress Res Treat.2015;2015:178564. doi:10.1155/2015/178564.Zielińska M, Łuszczki E, Dereń K.Dietary nutrient deficiencies and risk of depression(Review Article 2018–2023).Nutrients. 2023;15(11):2433. doi:10.3390/nu15112433National Health Service.Depression in children and young people.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Social media and youth mental health.National Institute of Mental Health.Tips for talking with a healthcare provider about your mental health.

National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Depression.

Mandelli L, Petrelli C, Serretti A.The role of specific early trauma in adult depression: a meta-analysis of published literature. Childhood trauma and adult depression.Eur Psychiatry. 2015;30(6):665-680. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2015.04.007

Penner-Goeke S, Binder EB.Epigenetics and depression.Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience. 2019;21(4):397-405. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2019.21.4/ebinder

Zhiguo WU, Yiru FANG.Comorbidity of depressive and anxiety disorders: challenges in diagnosis and assessment.Shanghai Arch. Psychiatry. 2014(4): 227–231. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-0829.2014.04.006

Penn Medicine Princeton Health.Can gratitude improve quality of life?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Risk and protective factors.

Johns Hopkins.Major depression.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Treatment-resistant depression.

World Health Organization.Depressive disorder (depression).

Godbout N, Paradis A, Rassart CA, Sadikaj G, Herba CM, Drapeau-Lamothe M.Parents’ history of childhood interpersonal trauma and postpartum depressive symptoms: The moderating role of mindfulness.Journal of Affective Disorders. 2023;325:459-469. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.007

Gronewold J, Duman EE, Engel M, et al.Association between life events and later depression in the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study—the role of sex and optimism.PLoS ONE. 2022;17(7):e0271716. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0271716

Smith HR.Depression in cancer patients: pathogenesis, implications and treatment (review).Oncology Letters. 2015;9(4):1509-1514. doi:10.3892/ol.2015.2944

Pryce CR, Fontana A.Depression in autoimmune diseases. In: Dantzer R, Capuron L, eds.Inflammation-Associated Depression: Evidence, Mechanisms and Implications. Vol 31. Springer International Publishing; 2016:139-154. doi:doi.org/10.1007/7854_2016_7

National Institute of Mental Health.Chronic illness and mental health: recognizing and treating depression.

Lee B.National, state-level, and county-level prevalence estimates of adults aged ≥18 years self-reporting a lifetime diagnosis of depression — United States, 2020.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023;72. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7224a1

Melrose S.Seasonal Affective Disorder: an overview of assessment and treatment approaches.Depress Res Treat.2015;2015:178564. doi:10.1155/2015/178564.

Zielińska M, Łuszczki E, Dereń K.Dietary nutrient deficiencies and risk of depression(Review Article 2018–2023).Nutrients. 2023;15(11):2433. doi:10.3390/nu15112433

National Health Service.Depression in children and young people.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Social media and youth mental health.

National Institute of Mental Health.Tips for talking with a healthcare provider about your mental health.

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