![]() They tell the neurons to speed up or slow down. Glutamate works like a gas pedal and GABA is the brake. This area, called the prefrontal cortex, processes complex information including emotional expressions and social behavior.īrain cells called neurons are chemically controlled by two opposing messenger molecules, glutamate and gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA). Medical treatments for depression affect certain processing cells in the brain area above your eyes and under your forehead. What depression looks like inside the brain That’s one reason rapid-acting antidepressants are exciting. It’s been over 30 years since we’ve seen a novel class of antidepressant medicine. The physician-patient relationship can help ensure all components of major depression are being addressed. The “blockbuster” antidepressant Prozac, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI, was approved in 1987. In 1951, imipramine was discovered and would become one of the first antidepressants. Chlorpromazine, marketed as “Thorazine,” led the way in the 1950s. The first medicines were sedatives and antipsychotic medicines. In the middle of the 20th century, medicines that affected behavior were discovered. They included insulin coma therapy and primitive, frequently misused versions of a modern lifesaving procedure – electroconvulsive therapy. The goal in the early 20th century was for a patient to understand unconscious urges established during childhood.īiological treatments at the time seem frightening today. The early history of depression treatments focused on the psychological components of illness. Medication can help, but to effectively treat depression long term, with its mix of biological, psychological, social and cultural components, requires more than just drugs. With the coronavirus pandemic taking a toll on mental health, patients are looking for fast relief. They also carry risks, including the potential for drug abuse. ![]() These drugs have been shown to help relieve symptoms of depression within hours, but each dose only works for a few days. They include ketamine, an anesthetic that is also abused as a street drug, and a derivative of ketamine called esketamine. The new treatments for depression promise to relieve distressing symptoms, including suicidal thinking, faster than any previous treatment. But it’s important to understand that these medications aren’t cure-alls. There have been some exciting developments in treating depression recently, particularly new rapid-acting antidepressants. Many have “ treatment-resistant” depression and are on a nearly constant search for relief. Nearly two in three people with depression will experience severe effects.Īs a psychiatrist specializing in behavioral neuroscience, I help patients who suffer from mood disorders. Chances are high that you or someone you know will experience a period when depression gets in the way of work, social life or family life. Depression is the most common cause of disability in the world. ![]()
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