Page 35 - AN-4-3

Advanced Neurology

REVIEW ARTICLE
Depression and its major risk factors in India: A

narrative review

Agar Chander Pushap 1 , Srishty Sudershan 2 , Sheetal Bhagat 3,4 ,
5,7
Pallavi Sachdeva 4 , Mohd Younis 5,6 , Amrit Sudershan * , and
5,6
Parvinder Kumar *
1 Department of Education, University Wing, Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, Chennai, Tamil
Nadu, India
2 Department of Zoology, Central University of Jammu, Samba, Jammu and Kashmir, India
3 Department of Psychology, Government Degree College Billawar, Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, India
4 Department of Psychology, University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
5 Institute of Human Genetics, University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
6 Department of Zoology, University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
7 Department of Human Genetics, Sri Pratap College, Srinagar, Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Abstract

*Corresponding authors: Major depressive disorder is a complex neurological condition marked by persistent
Amrit Sudershan
(amrit.sudarshan@jammuuniversity. sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in daily activities for at least 2 weeks. It
ac.in) significantly affects mental, emotional, and physical health and is a major contributor
Parvinder Kumar to global disease. In India, rising depression rates have demonstrated the necessity
(drparvinderkumar@
jammuuniversity.ac.in) of better understanding its causes for improved interventions and public health
policies. This review comprehensively explores the diverse factors contributing
Citation: Pushap AC,
Sudershan S, Bhagat S, et al. to the increasing prevalence of depression in India. An unstructured survey of
Depression and its major risk research articles and a detailed literature review were conducted using electronic
factors in India: A narrative review. databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Springer, and Elsevier. The findings
Adv Neurol. 2025;4(3):29-59.
doi: 10.36922/an.5940 reveal that in India, depression stems from a combination of external and internal
risk factors. External factors such as cultural norms and gender roles heavily influence
Received: November 14, 2024 societal perceptions of mental health and individual psychological experiences.
Revised: January 9, 2025 Other significant external contributors include educational stress, unemployment,
Accepted: February 11, 2025 occupational pressure, and challenges from rapid urbanization. Meanwhile, internal
factors including genetic predisposition and epigenetic mechanisms play a critical
Published online: March 20, 2025 role in individual susceptibility to depression. These biological factors interact with
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s). environmental stressors to shape the onset and progression of depression. Based on
This is an Open-Access article the findings, rising depression rates in India necessitate targeted efforts to address
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution modifiable factors, such as stigma, work stress, and mental healthcare access, while
License, permitting distribution, recognizing genetic influences. A comprehensive strategy that integrates policy
and reproduction in any medium, reforms and community initiatives is crucial for reducing the burden of depression
provided the original work is
properly cited. in India.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with Keywords: Major depressive disorder; Healthcare in India; Depression risk factors; Mental
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional health; Public health policy; Culture; Gender
affiliations.

Volume 4 Issue 3 (2025) 29 doi: 10.36922/an.5940