Depression

1
Depression
2
Unipolar Depression

• DSM - IV Criteria (5 or more symptoms over a 2
  week period)
• depressed mood
• diminished interest or pleasure (anhedonia)
• weight or appetite increase or decrease
• sleeping too much or too little
• feeling very agitated or physically slowed
• loss of energy
• feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• thoughts of death or suicide

3
Population Frequency

• 9-26 females lifetime will get uni-polar
  depression
• 5-12 males will get uni-polar depression
• for both m/f only 1 will come down with Bipolar
  disorder.

4
Unipolar Depression continued

• Left frontal lobe
• approach/joy
• Right frontal lobe
• withdrawal/distress
• Underactive left frontal EEG in adults and in
  children

5
University of Washington Research (Dr. Dawson)

• Children of depressed mothers Frontal EEG
  activity during play at one year of age
• Left about equal to right
• Children of non-depressed mothers
• left greater than right

6
Unipolar Depression

• Low levels of norepinephrine, dopamine, and
  serotonin
• Biochemical treatments raise these
  neurotransmitters
• amino acids phenylalanine and or tyrosine can
  raise dopamine and norepinephrine
• Tryptophan can raise serotonin
• SAM-e (S-Adenosyl Methionine)
• can increase dopamine and epinephrine

7
Unipolar Depression

• MAO inhibitors raise both norepinephrine and
  serotonin
• SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptate Inhibitors)
  raises sertonin (e.g., prozac, paxil, zoloft)

8
Efficacy and Tolerability of Ze 117 St. Johns
Wort Extract in Comparison with Placebo,
Imipramine and Fluoxetine for the Treatment of
Mild to Moderate Depression according to ICD-10.
An Overview.
R. Käufeler, B. Meier, A. Brattström
Volume 34 Suppl1 S49-S50. 2001.
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St. Johns Wort Extract Ze 117 (Hypericum
perforatum) Inhibits Norepinephrine and Serotonin
Uptake into Rat Brain Slices and Reduces
ß-Adrenoceptor Numbers on Cultured Rat Brain Cells

• U. Kientsch, S. Bürgi, C. Ruedeberg, S. Probst,
  U.E. Honegger

Volume 34 Suppl1 S56-S60. 2001.
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