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Briana Kerr
English 111
Research Essay
December 17, 2015
Depression and Anxiety
Mental disorders affect more people than cancer, heart disease, or diabetes (Mental
Disorders). Two of the most common disorders are depression and anxiety. They often occur
separately but seeing the two disorders in one patient is not uncommon. Depression can offset
anxiety or anxiety can offset depression. Despite a few overlapping details, the two disorders
have distinct differences.
Over the years the disorders have affected more and more people, and the stigma, or
ignorance, which develops with the thought of any mental disorder, has grown as well. Education
and awareness are key parts to lessening the stigma associated with mental disorders. Society is
aware of the basic facts about the two disorders but not unaware of the detailed information
(Kerr). Depression and anxiety, like any mental disorder, have become more prevalent in the
twenty-first century, but their types, causes, and symptoms remain overlooked which contributes
to the idea that people believe mental disorders do not exist or have an easy cure.
Depression has many different types and each type affects people differently. Depression is
an overall sadness which everyone experiences every now and then, but being diagnosed with
depression is defined as a prolonged grouping of certain symptoms (Bruce). Although depression
can come in many forms, the three most common forms are major depressive disorder (MDD),
post-partum depression (PPD), and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Major depressive
disorder is the most severe form of depression. Its symptoms lasts longer than two week, affects
people around the age of 30 and more women than men are affected. (Ford-Martin, Anne, and
Teresa) Although less severe, Post-Partum depression remains common and is a minor form of
depression which begins shortly after a woman gives birth and can last for around six weeks.
PPD only affects 15% of women who give birth and often goes undiagnosed (Ford-Martin,

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Wells). Another common type people often have little knowledge about is seasonal affective
disorder. SAD occurs at a specific time of the year and, like clockwork, appears at the same time
each year. It is most commonly found in the fall and winter months. According to Doctors
Wienclaw and Davidson, SAD occurs more in teenagers and does not usually meet the criteria of
MDD. Although these are the most common types of depression, they are not the only types.
Anxiety, like depression, can occur on a daily basis and appears as a common emotion many
people experience. However, when the symptoms start affecting daily life repeatedly, then
anxiety is the official diagnosis (Bruce). Similarly to depression, anxiety has many different
types. The most common types of anxiety are Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social
Anxiety, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Generalized anxiety disorder occurs when
someone is worried and tense frequently when there is no specific cause (Dinsmoor). Most
patients who are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder are usually diagnosed with GAD. Despite it
being a common diagnosis, it only accounts for two to three percent of the overall population;
unlike the most common form of depression, which accounts for 6.7% of the total population
(Major Depression Among). Social anxiety stems from an irrational fear of feeling judged and
unwelcomed in any type of social situation. This form of anxiety appears as a normal human
characteristic of feeling uncomfortable in a new situation, but differs from a feeling of
discomfort because it prevents people from living a normal life. Social anxiety leaves people
feeling trapped and never wanting to be around other people. (Social Anxiety). Obsessive
compulsive disorder is very well known by society but little to no one associates OCD with
anxiety. OCD manifests as an annoying quirk. People will quickly say they have OCD when it
comes to something they like to be done a certain way. But when OCD is diagnosed in a person,
their thoughts and impulses are uncontrollable and cannot be diminished until they have
completed the action (Frey). Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can make a person seem irrational

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and persistent. However, these three types being the most diagnosed, they do not cover the
extensive list of types of anxiety.
Genetics, life situations, and chemicals in the brain cause depression. From the research of
depression, connections between genetics and family history have been revealed. As Dr. Lofhoff
states in his research, Family studies of MDD-RU[Major depressive disorder recurrent unipolar]
have shown that first-degree relatives of MDD-RU probands are at increased risk of MDD-RU
disorders compared with first-degree relatives of control probands. Depression can be onset by
a life situation which negatively impacted an individual. Finding someone who has been
diagnosed with depression after a death in the family, job loss, or divorce is not uncommon. Any
traumatic event or even diagnosis of an illness can hinder self-esteem and cause depression
(Depression. Krames). The chemicals in the brain play a key role in the diagnosis of
depression. Depression research reveals that a neurotransmitter, which is a chemical in the brain
that delivers messages to nerve cells, imbalance can affect a persons normal brain chemistry and
function. Serotonin and norepinephrine activity and regulation appear diminished in the brain
activity of a depressed person (Depression. Britannicia). Depression arises from a compilation
of different causes which all have different effects on the brain and everyday life.
Anxiety, like depression, can have genetic causes. From research at a French hospital,
Hpital Louis Mourie, researchers concluded:
The role of genetic factors in anxiety disorders is yet unknown, although their
[sic] is a clear familial aggregation, and although twin studies found genetic
factors to be at least as important as familial factors for some anxiety disorders
such as panic disorder or phobias [on] basis of twin samples, generalized [sic]
anxiety disorder and separation anxiety disorder seem to share most of their
genetic determinism.

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However, unlike depression, anxiety has triggers that cause the symptoms to worsen. The
triggers can be biological or psychological. Biological triggers include; cigarettes, exercise, and
temperature. Psychological triggers deal with moodiness, unproductiveness, and low self-esteem
(Heller). Similarly, anxiety can be affected by neurotransmitters. Yet the specific
neurotransmitters which play a role in anxiety are different than in depression. Gammaaminobutyric acid (GABA) is one of the main neurotransmitters, and it regulates many brain
functions, including anxiety levels. So, a spike in GABA can cause anxiety to begin to develop
(Neurotransmitters). Anxietys different causes give the disorder its complexity.
Depression manifests in a persons head and its symptoms can interfere drastically with
everyday life. Those diagnosed with depression often experience; loss of energy and fatigue,
change in sleeping patterns, irritability, lack of motivation, difficulty thinking, and thoughts of
suicide or self-harm (Lawson).These symptoms often impede basic daily routines like getting up
for school or work or simply going out with friends. Depression can affect how a person lives his
or her daily life.
Contrarily, anxietys symptoms manifest in a very physical manner as well as a mental
manner. Like depression, anxietys symptoms can affect everyday life and cause interruptions in
basic tasks like public speaking or meeting new people. Symptoms of anxiety include; nausea,
increased heart rate, tightness of chest, and feelings of panic or worry. During an anxiety attack
people often pace back and forth, tap repeatedly, hyperventilate or tremble (Frey,Odle) Anxietys
symptoms can be related to an overall anxious state or to an anxiety attack.
Mental disorders have become more important over the years because of an increase in the
number of diagnoses. Depression and anxiety have become two of the most relevant mental
disorders in the world. Although depression and anxiety seem to be very common, people lack
knowledge and awareness of the two disorders. People then create a stigma that they associate
with any type of mental disorder. Education will lessen the stigma and bring knowledge to

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people which will help create awareness. Despite depression and anxiety both being common
mental disorders, their unique characteristics of types, causes, and symptoms differentiate one
from the other.

Works Citied
Bruce, Timothy J. "Depression." World Book Student. World Book, 2015. Web. 7 Dec. 2015.
"Depression." Britannica School. Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc., 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2015.
Dinsmoor, Robert Scott, Teresa G. Odle, and Laura Jean Cataldo. "Generalized anxiety disorder."
The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. 5th ed. Farmington Hills, MI:
Gale, 2015. Science In Context. Web. 18 Dec. 2015.
Ford-Martin, Paula Anne, and Teresa G. Odle. "Depressive disorders." The Gale Encyclopedia of
Medicine. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. 5th ed. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2015. Science In
Context. Web. 20 Dec. 2015.

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Ford-Martin, Paula, and Ken R. Wells. "Postpartum Depression." The Gale Encyclopedia of
Alternative Medicine. Ed. Laurie J. Fundukian. 3rd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Gale, 2009. 17801782.Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 20 Dec. 2015.
Frey, Rebecca J., Teresa G. Odle, and William A. Atkins. "Anxiety disorders." The Gale Encyclopedia
of Medicine. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. 5th ed. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2015. Science In
Context. Web. 7 Dec. 2015.
Frey, Rebecca J., and Teresa G. Odle. "Anxiety." The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Ed.
Heller, Sharon. "Your Anxiety May Not Be "All in Your Head"." Natural Life. 01 Jul. 2006:
10. eLibrary Science. Web. 11 Jan 2016.
Kerr, Briana Depression and Anxiety 2015.

Lohoff, Falk W. "Overview of the Genetics of Major Depressive Disorder."Current Psychiatry

Reports. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Dec. 2011. Web. 20 Dec. 2015.
"Mental Disorders." World of Scientific Discovery. Gale, 2010. Science in Context. Web. 11 Jan.
2016.
Neurotransmitters: Gaba." Violence in America. Ed. Ronald Gottesman and Richard Maxwell
Brown. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999. U.S. History In Context. Web. 20
Dec.2015.
"Social Anxiety." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. Ed. William A. Darity, Jr. 2nd
ed. Vol. 7. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2008. 563-564. Global Issues in Context.
Web. 20 Dec. 2015.

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Wienclaw, Ruth A., and Tish Davidson. "Seasonal affective disorder." The Gale Encyclopedia of
Medicine. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. 5th ed. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2015. Science In
Context. Web. 20 Dec. 2015.

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