What Increases Your Risk

Several factors increase your risk for depression. Your risk of developing depression is up to three times greater than that of the general population if you have a father, mother, or sibling with depression. If you have had depression before, you are much more likely to have depression again.³

Other risk factors for depression include:

• A history of heart problems, such as coronary artery disease.
• A serious, ongoing (chronic) illness, such as diabetes, cancer, or chronic pain.
• Problems in your marriage.
• Use of drugs or alcohol.
• Use of certain medications that might trigger depression, such as steroids or narcotics for pain relief.
• A stressful life event, such as losing a job or the death of a loved one. This is especially true for older people who have many social stressors, such as becoming dependent upon others for care.
• Certain medical conditions, such as anemia and thyroid disease.
• Aging and dementia, a loss of mental skills that affects your daily life.
• Recent serious illness or surgery.
• A childhood history of physical or sexual abuse.
• Constantly worrying or being overly anxious.
• An eating disorder or anxiety disorder.

Additional risk factors for depression in women include:

• Recent childbirth. For more information, see the topic Postpartum Depression.
• Use of birth control pills (oral contraceptives). However, for some women, birth control pills can improve mood.
• A history of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (severe premenstrual syndrome, or PMS).