Posted on 09/02/2014 12:15:05 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The latest research exploring the topic found that mice without serotonin still reacted to antidepressants. The data could change the way we think about treating the leading cause of disability worldwide.
A lack in serotonin might not be entirely to blame for depression, new evidence suggests.
It's widely believed that people with depression don't make enough serotonin-a messenger in the brain. But mice lacking serotonin did not exhibit symptoms of depression, reports a study in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience.
When Prozac — which works primarily by increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain — was introduced in the 1980s, scientists thought that upping serotonin levels was how to cure depression, which affects more than 350 million people and is the global leading cause of disability. Many other medications for depression came after.
But researchers say that 60% to 70% of people taking these types of antidepressants, called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, still remain depressed. And a study done in the 1990s by Pedro Delgado of the University of Texas found that humans depleted of serotonin didn't get depressed. Science has since gone back and forth on serotonin's role in the debilitating illness.
Donald Kuhn and his team at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center and Wayne State University School of Medicine wanted to add their research to the conversation.
Studying mice they engineered to be incapable of producing serotonin, they found that while those mice were more aggressive and compulsive than regular ones, they did not show signs of depression. They didn't even show any differences to regular mice when put under stress. And, normal mice and a one group of altered mice reacted similarly to antidepressants, suggesting that serotonin wasn't the deciding factor at play.
The researchers said that their study could lead to new ways we think about treating depression.
Depression is normal component of the human condition. The more intelligent you are, the more you are prone to it. That’s my take.
Read about Paul’s prayer to be relieved of the “thorn” in his flesh.
amen.
All the SSRIs are generic these days I think.
The big money was made last decade.
Yes.I was just thinking that.
Other than enriching the pharmaceutical companies, and driving a number of unfortunate souls to mass-murder?
Good point. Too basic and logical so it’s above the heads of most reporters.
“The cure for depression is Jesus.”
Not always. I’ve known plenty of pious people that suffer from depression.
What do people expect with a secular/socialist society reigns? Joy?
People are effected spiritually/emotionally/physically when a hopeless philosophy takes over. Why is that surprising?
When revival comes we will see a lot of this "mental illness" disappear IMO.
Except for the inarguable ~30-40% of patients SSRIs do seem to help.
For me, a new SSRI consistently seems to work somewhat for about a year, then poops out. SSRI/SNRI maybe a little better.
No thinking person ever suggested deficient serotonin was the only cause of depression, nor that increasing it would alleviate symptoms of depression in every patient. Some depression, of course, is not neurochemically based at all. The third paragraph of the article states: "A lack in serotonin might not be entirely to blame for depression, new evidence suggests".
That's a prima facie absurd statement since Jesus sends or permits much of the suffering on earth, especially to the most devout. See suffering saints.
Mice have depression?
Of course God allows it, but it is intended to burn out faithlessness, sin, rebellion in the hearts of men in the long run.
We've seen oppression take over as evil forces seem to dominate ( a la depression).
It follows that as these forces are destroyed when God decides to bring revival spiritual renewal that faith, freedom and obedience will be the result.
Yes, Jesus is the ultimate answer for everything. But that does not explain why people, including me, who are Christian are still depressed. I know that I have been redeemed, that God is working through me, and placing me in situations that will bring Him ultimate glory. Nevertheless, there are many days that I think I’m totally friendless, the work I do could be done much better by others, and that the world would be better if I were not here.
I don’t act on those feelings as I know they’re not true. I keep going. I do what God has placed before me. And, I know that one day I will be past these awful, dark feelings.
I will pray for you today. Depression is no fun.
Please read and meditate on Psalm 5. A wonderful passage about hope in God. Meditating on this has helped me many times.
Why Does God Allow Suffering? (excerpt)
...The Bible teaches that Satan is the author of sin. Sin is the reason that we have afflictions, including death. All of our problems and our suffering, including death itself, are a result of man’s rebellion against God. But God has provided a rescue in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ. That’s why Christ died on the cross. That’s why He rose from the dead.
You discourage and dishearten all Christians who pray for relief, and do not receive it.
Where did Jesus say that?
I’m sorry, say what?
You aren’t saying a chronic illness is evidence of a lack of faith are you?
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