Depression (Clinical)

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by Chacmool

Dear Racoon, I understand that you are a very optimistic person by nature, but please refrain from making antagonistic and hurtful comments.
.

Thanks for your post.
I was beginning to think I was talking to myself

Racoon just has the odd "off" day. Just ignore those posts. We all have our "off" days

On Virus(ss?)
I am interested in herbal anti-virals.
They may come in handy if Bird Flu breaks out between human-human.
Some herbal "cure alls" are interesting
1) Virgin Coconut Oil (Very trendy at the moment)
2)St John's Wort
While this is prescribed for mild depression, no one knows the active ingredient. It's traditional use is as a cure all and used for soldier's wounds. Never traditionally used for depression to my knowledge. Does it work because it is anti-viral (PS It "potentates"(? not exactly the right word) the effects of mainstream anti-depressives.)
3)Ecinacea
4) Violets (see my thread on Violets and Cyclocides)
--

[InfiniteNow]

Originally Posted by Chacmool

Dear Racoon, I understand that you are a very optimistic person by nature, but...

I believe our good friend Rac has been touched by a bit of depression recently as a result of his grandmother's passing. This will perhaps assist in the feelings of empathy.

[Michaelangelica]

This is a good article on recent discoveries and emerging treatments

http://depression.about.com/cs/treatments/a/newtx.htm

the volume of various brain structures is reduced in long-term sufferers of depression. Among these is the hippocampus, a part of the limbic system (involved in emotion and memory). This finding is consistent with animal data suggesting that chronic oversecretion of cortisol, as occurs in many depressed individuals, can destroy hippocampal cells.1

Positron emission tomography (PET) has shown that patients with major depression compared with normal persons show different patterns of activity in several limbic and cortical brain areas.

In addition, one PET analysis revealed that increased activity in a region of the limbic system--the amygdala of the left hemisphere--might be an indicator of heightened vulnerability to future depression.2

Functional imaging technology can also be used to examine the concentrations of neurotransmitters, so that densities of those molecules can be compared. Traceable substances that bind to the serotonin reuptake transporter and to one type of serotonin receptor have been developed and should provide information about which brain areas show depleted serotonin activity in depressed patients.3

[Chacmool]

Originally Posted by InfiniteNow

I believe our good friend Rac has been touched by a bit of depression recently as a result of his grandmother's passing. This will perhaps assist in the feelings of empathy.

This is true. It wasn't my intention to be mean, dear Racoon! I was very sad to hear the news about your grandmother.

[arkain101]

Even if you fix parts of your brain. If a person continues to call themself worthless, ugly, loser, and all other kinds of things of which they truly believe, they wont find happiness, even if they dont have the clouded filter of depression. There is I think partly in most cases a mind processing problem.

[Chacmool]

Originally Posted by Michaelangelica

the volume of various brain structures is reduced in long-term sufferers of depression. Among these is the hippocampus, a part of the limbic system (involved in emotion and memory). This finding is consistent with animal data suggesting that chronic oversecretion of cortisol, as occurs in many depressed individuals, can destroy hippocampal cells.1

Positron emission tomography (PET) has shown that patients with major depression compared with normal persons show different patterns of activity in several limbic and cortical brain areas.

Whaaa! My brain is shrinking! Thanks for yet another fascinating article, Michaelangelica.

It is disturbing to learn that the oversecretion of cortisol can destroy cells in the hippocampus. Apparently my adrenal burnout is also caused by this oversecrection. It just goes to show how closely depression is linked to various other conditions, and that it's not only an imaginary illness.

The article also comments about the compelling link between depression and epilepsy. Two of my four medications for depression are actually anticonvulsants, and I dare say they have more of an effect (on me at least) than the regular antidepressants. It is also interesting to note that the new suggested therapy - vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) - has until now been used to treat epilepsy.

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by Chacmool

Whaaa! My brain is shrinking! Thanks for yet another fascinating article, Michaelangelica.

It is disturbing to learn that the oversecretion of cortisol can destroy cells in the hippocampus. Apparently my adrenal burnout is also caused by this oversecrection. It just goes to show how closely depression is linked to various other conditions, and that it's not only an imaginary illness.

Here is another
I have been talking to someone on the web about Coeliac disease.
I came accross the fact that high cortisol secretion (as found in depressed people) marsks the diagnostic test for coeliac disease. (http://.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov?entrez/quer...md=retrieve&db ) That may not be right link I am copying it from a page I printed)
Result? coeliac disease goes undiagnosed.
She was talking to me about a new fecal test for coeliac anti-bodies (http://www.enterolab.com/) so my overactive brain googled some odd words and ended up with the following article. (Coeliac disease is even more under-diagnosed than depression)
"genetically suseptable " is Irish and Jewish genes
http://www.pubmedcentral.gov/article...i?artid=555756

Background
Coeliac disease in adolescents has been associated with an increased prevalence of depressive and disruptive behavioural disorders, particularly in the phase before diet treatment. We studied the possible effects of a gluten-free diet on psychiatric symptoms, on hormonal status (prolactin, thyroidal function) and on large neutral amino acid serum concentrations in adolescents with coeliac disease commencing a gluten-free diet.

Methods
Nine adolescents with celiac disease, aged 12 to 16 years, were assessed using the semi-structured K-SADS-Present and Lifetime Diagnostic interview and several symptom scales. Seven of them were followed at 1 to 2, 3, and 6 months on a gluten-free diet.

Results
Adolescent coeliac disease patients with depression had significantly lower pre-diet tryptophan/ competing amino-acid (CAA) ratios and free tryptophan concentrations, and significantly higher biopsy morning prolactin levels compared to those without depression. A significant decrease in psychiatric symptoms was found at 3 months on a gluten-free diet compared to patients' baseline condition, coinciding with significantly decreased coeliac disease activity and prolactin levels and with a significant increase in serum concentrations of CAAs.

Conclusion
Although our results of the amino acid analysis and prolactin levels in adolescents are only preliminary, they give support to previous findings on patients with coeliac disease, suggesting that serotonergic dysfunction due to impaired availability of tryptophan may play a role in vulnerability to depressive and behavioural disorders also among adolescents with untreated coeliac disease.

http://www.pubmedcentral.gov/article...i?artid=555756

Background

Coeliac disease is an under-diagnosed autoimmune type of gastrointestinal disorder resulting from gluten ingestion in genetically susceptible individuals. Non-specific symptoms such as fatigue and dyspepsia are common, but the disease may also be clinically silent. Diagnosis is based on small-bowel biopsy, and a permanent gluten-free diet is the essential treatment. Undetected or neglected, coeliac disease is associated with serious complications. [1-3] Depressive symptoms [4,5] and disorders [6] are common among adult patients with coeliac disease, and depressive and disruptive behavioural disorders are highly common also among adolescents, particularly in the phase before diet treatment [7]. Recently 73% of patients with untreated coeliac disease – but only 7% of patients adhering to a gluten-free diet – were reported to have cerebral blood flow abnormalities similar to those among patients with depressive disorders [8].

Improvement in state anxiety [5], in behavioural symptoms [9], and in depressive disorders [6,10] may occur after the start of a standard gluten-free diet, and after a vitamin B-6-supplemented gluten-free diet [11]. In some cases, however, the more serious depressive episodes have appeared following the commencement of a gluten-free diet [6]. Mechanisms involved have remained unclear. Some studies have suggested the possibility of impaired availability of tryptophan and disturbances in central serotonergic function as playing a role [9,12]. In parallel with this, a significant increase in major serotonin and dopamine metabolite concentrations in the brain has been reported after one year on a gluten-free diet [13].

The present work is a preliminary prospective psychiatric follow-up study of adolescents with newly diagnosed coeliac disease measuring psychiatric symptoms, hormonal status (prolactin, thyroidal function), and large neutral amino acid (LNAA) serum concentrations repeatedly after their commencement of a gluten-free diet, testing the hypothesis that the treatment of coeliac disease may increase the availability of tryptophan and alleviate psychiatric symptoms.

[Chacmool]

Originally Posted by Racoon

I apologize Chacmool...last thing I'd want to do is be hurtful

No worries, Racoon!

Originally Posted by Racoon

Its a perturbing thing really. But one I refuse to believe to be an impedence to living life!
It might be the chemicals in your brain, and it might be your attitude..Its entirely over-diagnosed here in the United States, but of course there are real cases

Yes, I'll admit that attitude plays a part sometimes, but the illness is mainly rooted in chemical reactions in the brain. And unfortunately this can greatly impede one's quality of life! When I'm at my most depressed, I can barely function as a human being. While I remain determined to lead the best life possible, I certainly won't get anywhere without my medication.

Originally Posted by Racoon

One thing I DO know for sure! Exercise alleviates the symptoms! and helps regulate brain chemicals.
Thats my recommendation. Get Active! Motion creates Emotion!

Start an exercise program. Exercise releases the Endorphins in your brain that make you feel "Good!"

Great advice! Exercise is indeed very beneficial. On the very bad days I can't even lift my arm to reach for my water bottle, but I'm aware that I need to at least try to keep on moving. And some encouragement always helps!

[Michaelangelica]

Some new anti-depression treatments make some wealthier/happier?
http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusin...10006155.shtml

Mr. Hazan, who said he was surveying all the companies he follows for potential backdating issues, focused on Cyberonics options that were granted at a special board meeting on the evening of June 15, 2004. That was only hours after a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel recommended that the agency approve Cyberonics's request to market its implantable nerve stimulator as a treatment for severe chronic depression.

Mr. Cummins received options on 150,000 shares at an exercise price of $19.58, the closing price the day before the F.D.A. panel's recommendation. The chief medical officer, Dr. Richard L. Rudolph, and the vice president for regulatory affairs, Alan D. Totah, who played pivotal roles in winning the panel's backing, each received options on 10,000 shares at that price.

The shares soared when trading resumed the next day, June 16, closing at $34.81, as investors bet that Cyberonics might soon be selling a new approach to treating the most severe forms of depression, a condition that affects millions of Americans annually.

"The board acted on an event before investors were able to do so," Mr. Hazan said yesterday in an interview. "It's a perfect example of an abusive option. Options are supposed to be an incentive to align executives' interests with shareholders. This was just a reward."

[Michaelangelica]

Another interesting article!
Popular topic among journalists this.
I wonder why?

I have cut out the reference to ECT as you don't need it.
It is medieval barbarism at its best.

Non-drug treatments for depression show promise
http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/20...lakelife03.txt
By Grace MacDowell
Tuesday, June 13, 2006 3:11 PM EDT

Depression is not always caused by serotonin insufficiency.

Some researchers have explored the role that omega-3 fatty acids play in overall brain function. One of the more important results has linked omega-3 insufficiency with depression.

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids, found in flaxseed, walnuts, canola oil (the plant sources) and in fish. According to an article by Gordon Parker, M.D., and five of his colleagues in this month's American Journal of Psychiatry, the plant sources have what scientists refer to as “parent omega-3” or alpha-linolenic acid. This form can be converted within the body to the more biologically active forms of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), but it is not done very efficiently. On the other hand, the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are already in the EPA and DHA forms.

What researchers have not yet identified is which omega-3 fatty acid to use. The argument may be unnecessary, as fish oil is the preferred method of supplementation. How much of it to use, and in what ratio to omega-6 fatty acids it should be used, are also unanswered research questions. Researchers also do not know if an omega-3 #) standard antidepressant treatment would be superior to either alone.

A second treatment is exercise. Multiple research psychologists have explored this option. The benefits come about slowly, taking several weeks of consistent, half-hour per day, six days per week sessions before becoming noticeable or reliable. Although there is some suggestion that the release of endorphins during exercise is the main factor, the results last much longer #- as much as a full day or more #- once the routine is well established. In fact, the results are comparable to the standard depression treatments of cognitive behavioral therapy and medication.