The loss of interest in participating in day-to-day activities may occur gradually or unexpectedly at any place and time to any person because of shifts in mood, according to reports quoting psychology journals. However, such emotional shifts may also be triggered by a deep loss or a traumatic event. As the disease progress, men and women suffering from depression experience more of this mood shifts. There are many factors that could cause depression and it may hit any person at any time too. Although pregnancy is a time of joy, depression may haunt these expecting women. Pregnancy is a sensitive time not only for the women but most importantly to the fetus, in which cases of birth defects were found in Pennsylvania because of antidepressant use.

It was found that depression among adults would start at the average age of 32, as seen in data about depression obtained by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIHM). Different age groups prefer to use antidepressants to relieve the symptoms of depression. Most psychologists and therapists aim to know more about depression in order to prescribe the most appropriate therapy. To relieve individuals of the symptoms of depression, different treatments were tried and tested among various age groups.

According to research, melancholia was the first name that ancient Greeks gave for the low moods. Most of the people who have experienced it were seen to be miserable. There are many forms in which this disease may be manifested in, researchers believe. Depression was also thought at first to be possession of spirits in the ancient times, which led to isolation of people who have the disease. When people began to understand the need of patients suffering from mood disorder during the 18th century, the first therapy institution was built and treatment through medication was started.

 Proper treatment were not given to those who suffered from mood disorder, although there were already many institutions that were built. The 20th century has brought useful medications for people with depression. Treatments like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are now rarely used because of the development of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which made quite a difference in managing depression.

It was the 80s that SSRIs were first introduced and since then it has become more and more popular. Their popularity may have contributed to the public acceptance in the use of medications for the treatment of mood disorders like depression. Marketed to different age groups, SSRIs were found to be effective. Doctors even prescribe SSRIs for pregnant women because it has lesser side effects than its predecessors. Concerns regarding the Zoloft side effects continue to alarm people.