Page 46 - AN-4-3

Advanced Neurology Depression and its risk factors in India

and job creation is essential for reducing unemployment underscores the need for addressing mental health among
rates across the country. Moreover, gender-sensitive those working in customer service jobs like driving by
strategies are vital, considering the significant impact of providing specific support services and improving their
96
unemployment on men’s risk for MDD. By integrating working conditions. Meanwhile, another study showed
research studies, policy actions, and community-based a higher prevalence of mental health issues among non-
programs, India can effectively address the complex link healthcare professionals compared with healthcare
between unemployment and mental health, fostering workers, suggesting the importance of psychological
97
societal well-being. counseling to manage stress levels in both groups.
Occupational stress refers to the physical, emotional, Pandya et al. conducted an in-depth review of the current
and mental strain individuals experience due to work- literature on overall workplace mental health interventions
83
related factors. As mentioned previously, common causes specifically within the Indian context.
include heavy workloads, tight deadlines, long hours, job Many jobs can be stressful. Therefore, it is especially
insecurity, interpersonal conflicts, and organizational important to help employees stay mentally strong and
pressures. In India, cultural, societal, and economic factors happy while working. By understanding the causes of
often intensify workplace stress, with professionals in occupational stress and providing appropriate support
sectors such as education, healthcare, law enforcement, and to employees, companies can make sure their employees
information technology (IT) facing distinct challenges. are happier. In this context, rapid action is crucial because
83
Rapid modernization, technological advancements, and occupational stress factors can lead to depression.
sociopolitical changes further add to these stressors. The Therefore, it is imperative to find ways to make work less
symptoms of occupational stress range from physical stressful and protect workers’ health.
issues such as tiredness and headaches to psychological
effects such as anxiety, sadness, and burnout. 84 3.3.2. Internal factors
Research on professions such as teaching, policing, Genetic factors play a significant role in the risk of
nursing, class-IV jobs, banking, and software engineering depression. As phenotypes, including depression, are
reveals a concerning trend of chronic stress in these fields, determined by genes, certain genetic changes can increase
often leading to depression. 85-90 Educators often face the risk of specific disorders. Depression is an example
excessive workloads, limited career growth opportunities, of polygenic inheritance, where multiple genetic changes
and interpersonal conflicts within their institutions. The can contribute to its development (GeneCards.org). In
responsibility of shaping young minds and adapting to this regard, a common change is a single-nucleotide
changing educational demands can further contribute to polymorphism, which acts as a genetic marker that
elevated stress levels. Meanwhile, police officers face high influences how likely someone is to develop certain
91
operational demands and organizational pressures, leading diseases. To determine the risk of depression in the Indian
to heightened stress. Their exposure to risky situations, population, multiple candidate gene association studies
traumatic events, and strict performance expectations (CGAS) (Table 2) have been conducted to measure genetic
leave law enforcement professionals vulnerable to mental risk factors for depression in different parts of India
health issues, including depression. Nurses, especially (Figure 3A). These studies are quick, cost-effective, and
92
those working in high-pressure settings such as intensive have identified several variants across different regions of
care units, also experience significant stress. Inadequate the genome. Many of these variants have been linked with
compensation and conflicts related to patient care add a higher risk of depression. These include LEP (D7S1875);
to their challenges, increasing the risk of developing MTR (A2756G); TPH (A779C); APOE (ApoE4); brain-
depressive symptoms. Meanwhile, Darshan et al. reveal derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (Val66Met); 5-HT
93
the vulnerability of software engineers to occupational 2A (−1438 A/G); SLC1A3 and BDNF (C3590T, C869G,
stress stemming from demanding work schedules and G196A); and VDBP (rs7041, rs4588). In addition, variants
job insecurity. Community health workers face stressors of numerous genes contributed to determining the impact
94
related to underparticipation and low status, highlighting of drugs on treating depression (Table 2).
the need for targeted interventions to protect their mental However, no significant association was found between
well-being and prevent depression. MDD also occurs other common variants and the risk of depression,
95
in career fields beyond those listed above. High rates of including MTR (A66G); CBS (844ins68); CPY2D6
depression (60.5%), anxiety (47%), and stress (36.5%) are (P4502D6, TPH2 (C11993A); DAT (TaqA1 and VNTR);
observed among cab drivers, likely influenced by poor and MTHFR (C677T). 9-11,98-101 Of the reviewed literature,
working conditions and stressors on the roads. The study three studies have attempted to explore the association
96

Volume 4 Issue 3 (2025) 40 doi: 10.36922/an.5940