scholarly journals Reviewing the Role of the Endocannabinoid System in the Pathophysiology of Depression

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ines Gallego-Landin ◽  
Alba García-Baos ◽  
Adriana Castro-Zavala ◽  
Olga Valverde
Keyword(s):  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Cannabinoid Receptors ◽  
Antidepressant Treatment ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Endocannabinoid System ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Diseases ◽  
The Relationship

Major depressive disorder is a high-impact, debilitating disease and it is currently considered the most prevalent mental illness. It is associated with disability, as well as increased morbidity and mortality. Despite its significant repercussions in our society, its exact pathophysiology remains unclear and therefore, available antidepressant treatment options are limited and, in some cases, ineffective. In the past years, research has focused on the development of a multifactorial theory of depression. Simultaneously, evidence supporting the role of the endocannabinoid system in the neurobiology of neuropsychiatric diseases has emerged. Studies have shown that the endocannabinoid system strongly impacts neurotransmission, and the neuroendocrine and neuroimmune systems, which are known to be dysfunctional in depressive patients. Accordingly, common antidepressants were shown to have a direct impact on the expression of cannabinoid receptors throughout the brain. Therefore, the relationship between the endocannabinoid system and major depressive disorder is worth consideration. Nevertheless, most studies focus on smaller pieces of what is undoubtedly a larger mosaic of interdependent processes. Therefore, the present review summarizes the existing literature regarding the role of the endocannabinoid system in depression aiming to integrate this information into a holistic picture for a better understanding of the relationship between the two.

scholarly journals Deficient testosterone levels in men above 45 years with major depressive disorder - an age-matched case control study

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
A M Dikobe ◽  
C W Van Staden ◽  
S Reif ◽  
M Bornman
Keyword(s):  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Matched Case

<p><strong>Background.</strong> Symptoms of partial androgen deficiency in ageing men (PADAM) overlap considerably with those of major depressive disorder. The relationship between these conditions is complicated by the usual age-related decline in serum testosterone concentrations.</p><p><strong>Objectives.</strong> To test the hypothesis that depressed men above 45 years of age have lower serum testosterone concentrations than age-matched controls.</p><p><strong>Method.</strong> Serum testosterone fractions of 20 men above the age of 45 years suffering from a major depressive disorder were compared with those of 20 healthy men. An age-matched controlled design was used to account for the usual age-related decline in serum testosterone concentrations.</p><p><strong>Results.</strong> Testosterone concentrations of men suffering from a major depressive disorder were statistically significantly lower than those of an age-matched control group without depression. Conclusion. The role of testosterone deficiency in depressed men needs to be examined further in order for appropriate treatment options to be developed.</p>

Cognitive Dimensions of Major Depressive Disorder

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard T. Baune
Keyword(s):  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Social Cognitive Processing ◽  
Cognitive Dimensions

Cognitive Dimensions of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) examines the key clinical and pathophysiological characteristics and treatment options of MDD. The volume emphasizes that while the traditional model of depression implicates mood as the primary symptom cluster, a more recently published conceptual understanding of depression has been extended to consider cognitive function as more than just a symptom. It furthers our understanding of the central role of the cognitive dimension for the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of MDD. It reviews the key cognitive dimensions of depression comprising impaired cognitive and emotional processes of cognitive function, emotion processing, and social cognitive processing. It focuses on the cognitive and emotional dimensions of depression and offers extended and novel diagnostic and treatment approaches ranging from pharmacological to psychological interventions targeting those dimensions of depression.

scholarly journals Effects of Antidepressant Treatment on Peripheral Biomarkers in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1706
Author(s):  
Anna Mosiołek ◽  
Aleksandra Pięta ◽  
Sławomir Jakima ◽  
Natalia Zborowska ◽  
Jadwiga Mosiołek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors ◽  
Recovery Of Function ◽  
Antidepressant Treatment ◽  
Antidepressant Drugs ◽  
Selective Serotonin ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most prevalent mental illness and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Despite a range of effective treatments, more than 30% of patients do not achieve remission as a result of conventional therapy. In these circumstances the identification of novel drug targets and pathogenic factors becomes essential for selecting more efficacious and personalized treatment. Increasing evidence has implicated the role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of depression, revealing potential new pathways and treatment options. Moreover, convergent evidence indicates that MDD is related to disturbed neurogenesis and suggests a possible role of neurotrophic factors in recovery of function in patients. Although the influence of antidepressants on inflammatory cytokines balance was widely reported in various studies, the exact correlation between drugs used and specific cytokines and neurotrophins serum levels often remains inconsistent. Available data suggest anti-inflammatory properties of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), selective serotonin and noradrenaline inhibitors (SNRIs), and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) as a possible additional mechanism of reduction of depressive symptoms. In this review, we outline emerging data regarding the influence of different antidepressant drugs on a wide array of peripheral biomarkers such as interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, C-reactive protein (CRP), or interferon (IFN)-γ. Presented results indicate anti-inflammatory effect for selected drugs or lack of such effect. Research in this field is insufficient to define the role of inflammatory markers as a predictor of treatment response in MDD.

scholarly journals Effects of Antidepressant Treatment on Neurotrophic Factors (BDNF and IGF-1) in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (15) ◽  
pp. 3377
Author(s):  
Anna Mosiołek ◽  
Jadwiga Mosiołek ◽  
Sławomir Jakima ◽  
Aleksandra Pięta ◽  
Agata Szulc
Keyword(s):  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Treatment Response ◽  
Neurotrophic Factors ◽  
Antidepressant Treatment ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Pubmed Database

Major depressive disorder (MDD) remains the subject of ongoing research as a multifactorial disease and a serious public health problem. There is a growing body of literature focusing on the role of neurotrophic factors in pathophysiology of MDD. A neurotrophic hypothesis of depression proposes that abnormalities of neurotrophins serum levels lead to neuronal atrophy and decreased neurogenesis, resulting in mood disorders. Consequently, in accordance with recent findings, antidepressant treatment modifies the serum levels of neurotrophins and thus leads to a clinical improvement of MDD. The purpose of this review is to summarize the available data on the effects of various antidepressants on serum levels of neurotrophins such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). In addition, the authors discuss their role as prognostic factors for treatment response in MDD. A literature search was performed using the PubMed database. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, nine original articles and three meta-analyses were selected. The vast majority of studies have confirmed the effect of antidepressants on BDNF levels. Research on IGF-1 is limited and insufficient to describe the correlation between different antidepressant drugs and factor serum levels; however, four studies indicated a decrease in IGF-1 after treatment. Preliminary data suggest BDNF as a promising predictor of treatment response in MDD patients. The role of IGF-1 needs further investigation.

scholarly journals The Way to a Human’s Brain Goes Through Their Stomach: Dietary Factors in Major Depressive Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine Aly ◽  
Olivia Engmann
Keyword(s):  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Dietary Factors ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Omega 6 ◽  
And Behavior

Globally, more than 250 million people are affected by depression (major depressive disorder; MDD), a serious and debilitating mental disorder. Currently available treatment options can have substantial side effects and take weeks to be fully effective. Therefore, it is important to find safe alternatives, which act more rapidly and in a larger number of patients. While much research on MDD focuses on chronic stress as a main risk factor, we here make a point of exploring dietary factors as a somewhat overlooked, yet highly promising approach towards novel antidepressant pathways. Deficiencies in various groups of nutrients often occur in patients with mental disorders. These include vitamins, especially members of the B-complex (B6, B9, B12). Moreover, an imbalance of fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6, or an insufficient supply with minerals, including magnesium and zinc, are related to MDD. While some of them are relevant for the synthesis of monoamines, others play a crucial role in inflammation, neuroprotection and the synthesis of growth factors. Evidence suggests that when deficiencies return to normal, changes in mood and behavior can be, at least in some cases, achieved. Furthermore, supplementation with dietary factors (so called “nutraceuticals”) may improve MDD symptoms even in the absence of a deficiency. Non-vital dietary factors may affect MDD symptoms as well. For instance, the most commonly consumed psychostimulant caffeine may improve behavioral and molecular markers of MDD. The molecular structure of most dietary factors is well known. Hence, dietary factors may provide important molecular tools to study and potentially help treat MDD symptoms. Within this review, we will discuss the role of dietary factors in MDD risk and symptomology, and critically discuss how they might serve as auxiliary treatments or preventative options for MDD.

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