Depression (Clinical)

[InfiniteNow]

Originally Posted by Shekhar

Does "migraine" have any link with clinical depression ?

It appears so:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0921073320.htm

Forty-seven percent of the migraine sufferers experienced depression, compared to only 17 percent of people without migraine. However, research shows that while migraine and depression are linked, they have independent causes and both cause a reduced quality of life.

Migraine patients consistently rated their quality of life lower in the mental and social aspects, but higher in the physical aspects.

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by Shekhar

Does "migraine" have any link with clinical depression ?

I was about to say the same thing
http://www.health24.com/child/Headac...3450,22919.asp

The study found that, over a period of two years, migraine sufferers were five times more likely than normal people to develop major depression. And visa versa � participants suffering from depression at the start of the study had over a three-fold higher chance of developing migraines.

It is interesting that the herb Feverfew taken daily can prevent migraine. A study at Guy's hospital in London (Migraine Clinic) found that over a two year period people who ate 2-3 leaves of Feverfew a day 90% of them reduced or eliminated their headaches.
When the hospital asked the Feverfew Takers to stop eating feverfew to see if their headaces returned (like good scientists should) they refused. The patients felt that the feverfew was keeping them free of migrain and they were not about to bring the migraines back by stopping the feverfew.
Feverfew is probably a mild gut anti-inflamatory, though no-one has done the work to see why it works for migraine (and hopefully for depression too?)
This then implies their is a gut connection with both migraine and depression. Perhaps gut flora?

EFT Master Practitioner and Gary Craig approved EFT training course
And indeed clinical signs of gut dysbiosis (abnormal gut flora) are present in ... were also found in patients with depression and rheumatoid arthritis. ...
www.e-f-t.co.uk/gutfloraandpsychology.html

or
celiac disease
- this comment was interesting
http://www.docnotes.net/cat_medicine.php

Migraines & Celiac

Medscape: Migraine Linked to Celiac Disease

About 4% of migraine sufferers may have celiac disease and symptom control may be improved with a gluten-free diet, according to the results of a study published in the March issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Celiac disease is certainly the disease of 2003. I think I've diagnosed 5 patients this year already!
Though I think that over time we'll learn that there are varying levels of wheat and/or gluten sensitivity ...

I would certainly agree with that last comment.
Wheat has such a complex gene structure now that we have hybidised it so much-we may have made it inedible!
Celiac disease is more common among people with Irish or some with some types of Jewish ancestry.
From my Irish ancestory, I suspect alcohol is the drug of choice for depression!
http://depression.about.com/cs/diet/...llergies_2.htm

it should not be surprising if the intestinal permeability, and digestive enzyme deficiencies found in celiac disease were also found in many folks suffering

This is underscored by the reports that depression is a very common symptom of celiac disease (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26). More on this point can be found at: http://www.gluten-free.org/reichelt.html

[Michaelangelica]

http://depression.about.com/od/dysth...hymic.htm?nl=1

Basic Information About Dysthymic Disorder
Dysthymia (pronounced Dis-THIGH-me-uh) comes from the Greek roots dys, meaning "ill" or "bad", and thymia, meaning "mind" or "emotions". The terms dysthymia and dysthymic disorder refer to a mild, chronic state of depression.

Symptoms

The symptoms of dysthymia are similar to major depression, but are less severe. These symptoms include:

* either poor appetite or eating too much
* sleep difficulties
* fatigue
* low self-esteem
* difficuly concentrating or making decisions
* feelings of hopelessness

Diagnosis

There is no laboratory test for dysthymia. A diagnosis must be made by a mental health professional after reviewing your symptoms and medical history.
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In order to be diagnosed with dysthymic disorder, your symptoms cannot be better accounted for by drug or alcohol abuse, a medical condition, or another psychological disorder. You also must meet the criteria set forth by the DSM-IV (a manual used to classify psychological disorders). According to the DSM-IV, if you have felt symptoms of depression more often than not for at least two years then you could be diagnosed with dysthymic disorder. For children, the requirement is lowered to one year.

Treatment

Treatment for dysthymia is similar to that for major depression. Some patients will do well with psychotherapy alone, while others may require medication. St. John's Wort, which has been reported to be helpful with cases of mild to moderate depression, may also be an option.

[Michaelangelica]

[http://www.market-day.net/article_27...d-Problems.php
QUOTE]

Can a Neurotransmitter Imbalance Be Causing Your Mood Problems??

Posted on September 21, 2006

by Valerie Balandra ARNP, BC

Neurotransmitters are powerful chemicals that regulate numerous physical and emotional processes such as cognitive and mental performance, emotional states and pain response. Virtually all functions in life are controlled by neurotransmitters.

Interactions between neurotransmitters, hormones, and the brain chemicals have a profound influence on overall health and well-being. When our concentration and focus is good, we feel more directed, motivated, and vibrant. Unfortunately, if neurotransmitter levels are inadequate these energizing and motivating signals are absent and we feel more stressed, sluggish, and out-of-control. Disrupted communication between the brain and the body can have serious effects to ones health both physically and mentally. Depression, anxiety and other mood disorders are thought to be directly related to imbalances with neurotransmitters.Some of the more common neurotransmitters that regulate mood are Serotonin, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine.

Serotonin imbalance is one of the most common contributors to mood problems[/QUOTE]
more at site

[Chacmool]

Wow, great article! It underlines yet again how important proper nutrition and excercise are for a healthy body and mind.

[Michaelangelica]

Thanks Chacmool
Some drugs can be a problem too
http://www.opednews.com/articles/gen...to_ban_acc.htm

FDA Needs To Ban Accutane (Isotretinoin)

by Evelyn Pringle
http://www.opednews.com
Unfortunately hundreds of parents already know that Accutane can cause some teenagers to commit suicide, but new evidence of a link between the acne drug and depression in the journal, Neuropsychopharmacology, will hopefully put an end to the years of claims by Hoffman-LaRoche that its drug is not responsible for the suicides.

Scientists from Bath University, with the University of Texas in Austin, reveal in the journal, Neuropsychopharmacology that experiments conducted on mice show that Accutane makes the rodents behave in ways recognized as depression.

and

FDA ALERT [7/2005]: Suicidal Thoughts or Actions: In addition to the strengthened risk management program, FDA continues to assess reports of suicide or suicide attempts associated with the use of isotretinoin.
All patients treated with isotretinoin should be observed closely for symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts, such as sad mood, irritability, acting on dangerous impulses, anger, loss of pleasure or interest in social or sports activities, sleeping too much or too little, changes in weight or appetite, school or work performance going down, or trouble concentrating, or for mood disturbance, psychosis, or aggression.
Patients should stop isotretinoin and they or their caregiver should contact their healthcare professional right away if the patient has any of the previously mentioned symptoms. Discontinuation of treatment may be insufficient and further evaluation may be necessary. [Action taken 08/12/05 Labeling revision]

http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopag...ne/default.htm
Accutane is used to treat a type of severe acne. About a year or so ago a young teenager (18YO) being treated with an acne drug (don't know if it was Accutane) commited suicide. The suicide was a shock to everone. The boy was popular at school and doing well in his studies. The acne treatment was implicted but I don't think any action was taken.
A heavy price to pay.

[McGyver]

Originally Posted by Michaelangelica

Virtually all functions in life are controlled by neurotransmitters.

Interactions between neurotransmitters, hormones, and the brain chemicals have a profound influence on overall health and well-being.

Disrupted communication between the brain and the body can have serious effects to ones health both physically and mentally.

Depression CAN become secondary to a known or unknown physical ailment, or as the above suggests, it can actually be the cause of the illness. It is regretable that the practice of medicine in the West, more particularly in the U.S., does not do enough to explore the affect of illness on depression. This is why exercise is so important for mental health. In the event that a person is ill, the illness may preclude or limit their ability to exercise - which then allows their status to further deteriorate.

Practitioners too often profile patients for a quick diagnosis and remedy, and such Western practices can leave untreated physical ailments to fester and create/exacerbate emotional and mental deficits. Eventually, it becomes difficult to know just what is contributing to the underlying condition.

Equal consideration should be given to the body, as well as the mind.

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by McGyver

Equal consideration should be given to the body, as well as the mind.

Yes how true

This is an interesting article
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...092501387.html

Plumbing the Depths Of Depression
Scientists Hope A New Tool Will Tap Into the Source Of the Blues

By Neely Tucker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 26, 2006; Page C01

Ketamine, sweet ketamine, answer to our glutamatergic dreams. In the long November night of the soul, in the ever-dark downpour of depression, it turns out that there might be a better umbrella than Prozac and Zoloft and Paxil and their serotonin-loving ilk.

Of course, when it comes to antidepressants, nobody really knows anything, anyway, so why not go with ketamine, a mild hallucinogen known to club freaks as Special K?

Yes, yes, break out the male Wistar rats and the injection needles -- researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health announced a study recently in which 18 chronically depressed patients infused with low dosages of ketamine improved within two hours.
Seventy-one percent improved within a day, and nearly 30 percent were depression-free by that time. In 24 hours! These were people who had been dealing with depression from three to 47 years.
They had failed to respond to just about every drug on the market.

Most of them stayed depression-free for up to a week.

Chronic depression, one of the most common, debilitating diseases known to mankind, blown away like a flower petal on a passing breeze

.

[McGyver]

I find it amazing that the U.S. government would undertake a study on a drug (special K) that is widely abused on the street. But, the findings according to highly respected experts in this area, are extraordinary.

Also just out TODAY:

SEATTLE - A brain institute funded by software billionaire Paul Allen says it has completed its first project: a map of the mouse brain down to details of individual cells. Work is already beginning on a similar map of the human brain.

The new Allen Brain Atlas is being made available online without cost to neuroscientists studying brain circuits and chemistry, a potential boon to cancer and other disease research because of similarities between the brains of mice and human beings. The formal announcement of the mouse brain atlas' completion was made by the Allen Institute for Brain Science on Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

It would seem such research may catapault new understandings and treatments for neurological (and psychiatric) disoders.

Link to FULL TEXT on MSN news: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15014341/

Stephen

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by McGyver

I find it amazing that the U.S. government would undertake a study on a drug (special K) that is widely abused on the street. But, the findings according to highly respected experts in this area, are extraordinary.

Also just out TODAY:

SEATTLE - A brain institute funded by software billionaire Paul Allen says it has completed its first project: a map of the mouse brain down to details of individual cells. Work is already beginning on a similar map of the human brain.

The new Allen Brain Atlas is being made available online without cost to neuroscientists

Special K is new to me . I don't go to dance parties!
But maybe its all good.

Just because you have a map does not mean you understand the terrain.


This was interesting

Are there any treatments for children with depression other than the currently used drugs with side effects that make their use problematic?

There is one study reported on in the “American Journal of Psychiatry” that found success in treating children with depression by using fish oil.

The study was done at Ben Gurion University in Israel. The lead author of the study said he would continue to study the use of the fish oil, omega-3, in treating depression in both children and adults. So this is still considered experimental, but it may be something you might want to discuss with your doctor.

http://www.readingeagle.com/re/consumer/15470177.asp