October 10, 2008, Newsletter Issue #303: What are some causes of depression?
Tip of the Week
Researchers are making new discoveries about the causes of depression every day as they study the roles of biochemistry, heredity and environment in the development of the illness. Studies show that people suffering from depression have imbalances of important biochemicals in their brains. These biochemicals, called neurotransmitters, allow the brainīs cells to communicate with one another. Two neurotransmitters that tend to be out of balance in depressive people are serotonin and norepinephrine. An imbalance in serotonin may cause the sleep problems, irritability and anxiety characteristic of depression, while an imbalance of norepinephrine, which regulates alertness and arousal, may contribute to the fatigue and depressed mood of the illness.
Researchers have also found that depressed people have imbalances in cortisol, another natural biochemical the body produces in response to extreme cold, anger or fear. Scientists donīt know if these biochemical imbalances cause depression or if depression causes the imbalances. They do know, however, that cortisol levels will increase in anyone who must live with long-term stress.
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