Major Depressive Disorder Treatment Overview

A mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, loss of interest in activities, physical pain, and symptoms that significantly impair daily life for weeks or months.

A system in the brain that controls the body's stress response. It involves the amygdala, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands triggering the release of cortisol and adrenaline.

A type of antidepressant medication that blocks the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, but also blocks other neurotransmitters like acetylcholine and histamine.

A last-resort treatment for severe depression where electricity is used to induce seizures in the brain, effectively resetting brain activity.

A protein in the brain that helps nerve cells grow and survive. Low levels are linked to depression.

Antidepressants that primarily block serotonin reuptake, showing little effect on other neurotransmitters.

A theory suggesting that depression is linked to imbalances in neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine.

Antidepressant drugs targeting both serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake, aiming to avoid side effects of older antidepressants.

Unwanted effects like sexual dysfunction, blood pressure issues, and discontinuation syndrome can occur with some antidepressants.

New antidepressants aim for faster action, higher efficacy, and fewer side effects.

A test measuring how well the body shuts off cortisol production after a dose of dexamethasone. Higher cortisol levels after the test suggest a problem with the HPA axis, often linked to depression.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) plays a crucial role in brain cell growth and survival. People with depression often have lower levels of BDNF in their blood.

Depression is linked to reduced dendritic branching in key brain areas like the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. This affects communication between brain cells and contributes to the symptoms of depression.

This theory suggests that depression is linked to impaired neurogenesis (the birth of new brain cells) in the hippocampus, which is crucial for learning and memory.

The HPA axis (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal) is the body's primary stress response system. It involves the amygdala detecting a stressor, the hypothalamus sending signals to the pituitary gland, which releases ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic Hormone). ACTH activates the adrenal glands to release cortisol and adrenaline, preparing the body for 'fight or flight'.

High levels of cortisol, triggered by chronic stress, can have negative effects on brain cells, impairing their function and ability to grow. This impacts neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to adapt and change.

Depression is linked to structural changes in the brain, particularly in areas involved in mood regulation like the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. These changes include reduced dendritic branching, which affects communication between brain cells, and possibly decreased volume, indicating loss of brain tissue.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is a protein essential for brain cell growth and survival. People with depression often have lower BDNF levels in their blood, contributing to reduced neuroplasticity and impaired brain function.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a treatment that uses electrical stimulation to induce seizures in the brain. This resets brain activity and can be effective for severe depression, though its effects are short-lived, it's time-consuming, and may cause memory loss.

This theory suggests that depression is linked to impaired neurogenesis (the birth of new brain cells) in the hippocampus, which is crucial for learning and memory.

High levels of cortisol, triggered by chronic stress, can have negative effects on brain cells, impairing their function and ability to grow. This impacts neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to adapt and change.

Tricyclic antidepressants, first developed in the late 1950s, are a type of medication that blocks the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, helping to increase their levels in the brain. However, they also block other neurotransmitters, leading to side effects like confusion and sedation.

The amygdala, often called the brain's 'fear center', detects stressors and sends signals to the hypothalamus to initiate the stress response.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is a protein essential for brain cell growth and survival. People with depression often have lower BDNF levels in their blood, contributing to reduced neuroplasticity and impaired brain function.