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).