Jul 08 2008
How Prozac sent the science of depression up the wrong path
I read a very interesting story from The Boston Globe on the above topic (see News section of www.IamBackFromTheBrink.com). In short, it describes how the effectiveness of Prozac was thought to prove the theory that depression occurred because of low levels of serotonin in the brain. Prozac increases serotonin levels and peoples moods seemed to improve following this. There were a couple of interesting findings that left a lot of questions however:
- When people had their levels of serotonin artificially reduced their was no decline in mood, and
- Even though Prozac increased serotonin levels within a couple of days there was a substantial lag before mood improvement occurred.
An emerging theory
Instead of of seeing depression as a chemical imbalance, some researchers are saying that it occurs because some of the brains neurons are dying, much like what occurs with Alzeimers. The only difference is that it appears the atrophy that occurs due to depression is reversable.
The effectiveness of Prozac, these scientists say, has little to do with correcting a chemical imbalance, but rather the increased serotonin levels help to heal our neurons, allowing them to thrive again.
If this theory is valid, then it would also help to explain why exercise and nutrition (known brain regenerators) have such a positive effect on mood.
What ever way you cut it, it again really reinforces my view that you must take a multiple strategy approach when managing/overcoming your depression.
Kind Regards
Graeme
