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Neurotransmitters Involved in the Aetiology of Depression

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Neurotransmitters Impairments in Depression

Depression involves impairments in the following neurotransmitters:

Serotonin: It has reduced levels in synaptic space.
Glutamate: it has decreased levels in the anterior brain region.
Dopamine: there are complex changes in dopaminergic neurotransmitters; we may say it impairs dopaminergic neurotransmitters. 


What does the Monoamine Hypothesis of Depression posit?
It posits an imbalance in the monoamine neurotransmitters causes depression. 
What kind of monoamine neurotransmitter imbalance causes depression?
A decrease
What are the monoamine neurotransmitters impairments in patients with depression?
Nor-adrenaline, serotonin, dopamine
What was noticed in the 1950s?
Drugs that decreased monoamine neurotransmitters caused symptoms like depressive disorder
What are the characteristics associated with nor-adrenaline?
Sleeping, energy, motivation, emotion
Characteristics of serotonin?
Mood control, sleeping, hunger
What other job does serotonin do?
Regulates adrenaline
What happens if there is a low level of serotonin?
Low level of adrenaline, lack of motivation and pleasure
Characteristics of dopamine?
Emotion, addiction, pleasure, and cog function
What does a decreased amount of dopamine explain?
Diminished interest and lack of pleasure
How many weeks might drugs take to work?
6 weeks
Why do drugs not work straight away?
Because of a neuro-circulatory change in the brain
What type of neuro-circulatory changes occur?
Because of the low levels, an up-regulation in the sensitivity occurs on receptor sites of post-synaptic neuron
What happens when the neurotransmitter suddenly become available through drugs?
A down-regulation occurs in the sensitivity, causes post-synaptic neuron receptors sites to desensitise
What did Lilmeck find? (strength)
He compared the brain of fifteen dead patients with and without depressive disorder found that there were differences in the part of the brain that produces noradrenaline showing that nd is involved
What did McNeal and cimbolic find? (strength)
Depressives show a lower level of 5hiaa which is produced when serotonin is broken down
What does another biological explanation suggest that goes against this one?
Suggests that part of the nervous system is involved, and that increased cortisol is associated with depressive disorder, incomplete
What do MRI scans show about the theory?
There have been differences in those with and without the depressive disorder, specifically a smaller hippocampus, so it is structural and biochemical
What is Monoamine Oxidase-A?
A chemical that removes monoamine neurotransmitter from the synapse when they are not needed
What does too much moa-a mean?
That too much of the neurotransmitter are being taken away producing symptoms of depressive disorder

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