A complex set of biological processes has been implicated in the etiology and course of depressionalthough such research has not always clarified whether such processes are underlying causal factors, correlates, or consequences of depression. Study uncovers brain biology behind postpartum depression. Journal of depression and anxiety open access journals. Understanding the chemistry of depression may help people better understand the treatments available. Depression may be related to the same brain mechanisms that control the cycles of sleep and wakefulness. Biological causes of depression all about depression. Below is a brief discussion of the multiple biological, psychological and social factors that have been identified as being related to the development of depression. Depression biology and treatment gateway psychiatric.
While psychotherapy is helpful for some people with depression, if there is a chemical imbalance in the brain, it may not be enough to address their symptoms. Understanding the underlying biology, she adds, could help therapists and psychopharmacologists decide which patients would benefit from more intensive therapy, and which arent likely to improve without medication. Studies suggest that variations in many genes, each with a small effect. Consequently, the treatment profile is also diversified. Although brain chemicals are certainly part of the cause, this explanation is too simple. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Mood disorders are among the most prevalent forms of mental illness. Uncovering the biology of depression yale scientific magazine. You may have heard that depression is the result of a simple imbalance of brain chemicals. Depression is almost twice as common in females than males.
At the moment, those of us teasing out the neurobiology of depression somewhat resemble blind searchers feeling different parts. Oct 21, 2014 in this article, i argue for a reconceptualization of major depressive disorder major depression as an infectious disease. I suggest that major depression may result from a parasitic, bacterial, or viral infection and present examples that illustrate possible pathways by which these microorganisms could contribute to the etiology of major depression. Harnessing biology and technology to develop muchneeded. Biology of depression neurotransmitters depression. Buprenorphine, a synthetic opioid analgesic drug, is a partial muopioid receptor agonist and kappaopioid receptor antagonist and has approved indications for analgesia, detoxification from opioid. Fundamentally, such depressive symptoms as sad mood, pessimism, and lethargy, are universal human experiences and are considered normal reactions to the struggles, disappointments, and losses of everyday life. Modulation of opioid systems is a novel treatment approach for depression, and opioid drugs were often used to treat depression until the mid1950s.
Uncovering the biology of depression jonathan hwang jonathan. However, research into the genetics of depression is in its early stages, and very little is known for certain about the genetic basis of the disease. Depression is the most common comorbidity for people with multiple sclerosis ms. Pathophysiology of depression and mechanisms of treatment. Biology of depression neurotransmitters a literal ton of research has been done on the causes of depression.
Cognitive theories of depression in children and adolescents. Depression is known to run in families, suggesting that genetic factors contribute to the risk of developing this disease. Worldwide, depression is a major cause of disability and premature death. Understanding the biology of major depression is a challenging scientific problem with enormous sociological and clinical relevance.
For example, in response to unusually hot or dry weather, plants prevent the loss of water by closing. Abstract depression is one of the most pervasive disorders and a leading cause of disability worldwide. The full extent of those alterations is still being explored, but in the past few decadesand especially in the past several yearsefforts to identify them have progressed rapidly. Jul 10, 2015 lifestyle factors, demographics and medications associated with depression risk in an international sample of people with multiple sclerosis. Maps of depression s neural circuits, mayberg says, may eventually serve as a tool both for diagnosis and treatment. Pdf systems biology perspectives on cerebellar longterm. Selye spent many years studying the physical reactions of animals to injury and disease. Inbreeding depression varies across mating systems.
Jan 26, 2005 reported by the who and the world bank to be the fourth cause of disability worldwide, depression can best be explained from a genetic perspective as a complex disorder of geneenvironment interactions. The genetic basis of depression studies, genred and dent, have come close to this sample size and consequently a majority of studies may have been underpowered to detect true linkage signals. Depression is the most common of the affective disorders. Depression symptoms, causes, medications and therapies. Even just considering the biological dimension of depression, the brain has multiple layers of issues that are involved. Great progress has been made in the understanding of brain function, the influence of neurotransmitters and hormones, and other biological processes, as well as how they may relate to the development of depression. This depression journal with high impact factor offers an open access platform to the authors in academia and industry to publish their novel research. Depression is usually the result of several factors, such as. Most of know what depression feels like, but how does depression change our brains. Factors involved in developing depression key points to remember where to get more information introduction unlike other illnesses or disorders, there is no simple explanation as to what causes depression. Jul 10, 2015 influence of life stress, 5httlpr genotype, and slc6a4 methylation on gene expression and stress response in healthy caucasian males. Several promising hypotheses of depression and antidepressant action have been formulated recently. Depression and its variants are known for causing many negative emotional effects like persistent sad moods, feelings of helplessness, and apathy but depression symptoms also have roots that tie into our underlying biology, like our brains and hearts.
Although brain chemicals are certainly part of the cause, this explanation is too simplistic. Even just considering the biological dimension of depression, the brain has multiple layers of complexity. The ohio state university researchers who made the discovery have been studying the brain biology behind. For a long time, doctors have known that depression runs in families. The fact that not all depressed patients respond to the same antidepressant treatment suggests that dysfunction of many mechanisms or neuronal pathways may be.
Understanding depression beyond biology psychology today. This brief tour will take us to a newly discovered protein that may be a vital link between stress and depression. Many individuals with depression can identify other family members who also struggle with the same or similar illness. Systems biology perspectives on cerebellar longterm depression.
Etiology of depression an overview sciencedirect topics. Bryce heads to camh in toronto to find out with animatics from. This is the first major reference to cover the clinical aspects of this common and complex disorder of unknown cause. The etiology of depression depression in parents, parenting. Box 893 new york, ny 10156 usa if you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroyyou. Clinical depression consists of a group of disorders with various causes. The etiology of depression is not fully understood. Biology of depressive disorders you may have heard that depression is the result of a simple imbalance of brain chemicals.
Meanwhile, early christianity just threw the blame of the devil for mans suffering, which resulted from their internal battle to fight the temptations of sin. New research into the biology of depression, along with new and evolving technologies, provides the basis for developing the next generation of treatments for. Van winkle, retired neuroscientist millhauser laboratories new york university school of medicine mail to. These hypotheses are based largely on dysregulation of the hypothalamicpituitaryadrenal axis and. For example, rapid eye movement rem sleep the stage in which dreaming occursmay be quick to arrive and intense in depressed people. Research over the past few decades has implicated monoamine dysfunction as a possible cause for depressive symptoms delgado, 2000. The ohio state university researchers who made the discovery have been studying the brain biology behind postpartum depression for several years, creating. Aug 21, 2014 the ancient greeks believed depression was a result of fluid imbalances of blood, phlegm, yellow and black bile. Depression is a common, treatable and serious medical condition. May 01, 2017 whats the real brain biology of depression. Depression may be related to abnormalities in the circadian rhythm, or biological clock.
The longheld belief in the medical professional was that clinical depression was primarily the result of a chemical imbalance. According to dr robert sapolsky, whose stanford lecture on the biology of depression is the foundation of this article, depression is a biochemical disorder with a genetic component and early experiential influences which means you cant enjoy sunsets anymore. But depression symptoms also have roots that tie into our underlying biology, like our brains and hearts. In most cases, stress promotes survival because it forces organisms to adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions. The biology of depression depression and its variants are known for causing many negative emotional effects like persistent sad moods, feelings of helplessness, and apathy. Previous research reported that individual differences in the stress response were moderated by an interaction between individuals life stress experience and the serotonin transporterlinked polymorphic regio. In many cases, however, the depression is an independent problem, which means that in order to be successful, treatment must address depression directly. The first person to study stress scientifically was a physiologist named hans selye. Current treatments for depression are inadequate for many individuals, and progress in understanding the neurobiology of depression is slow. Biology of depression genetics and imaging depression. Biological, psychosocial, and spiritual dimensions and treatment abdulmissagh ghadirian, m. The discovery of antidepressant drugs and the investigation of their mechanism of action has revolutionized our understanding of neuronal functioning and the possible mechanisms underlying depression. The chemistry of depression neurotransmitters and more.
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