Posted by linkadge on September 26, 2009, at 12:04:00
In reply to Re: depression + executive function, posted by g_g_g_unit on September 23, 2009, at 18:44:31
Dopamine isn't the magic pleasure chemical. Pleasure is regulated by a balance of all sorts of chemicals in the neucleus accumbens - dopamine, serotonin, norpinephrine, PEA, opiates etc. Too much dopamine in the neucleus accumbens can actually produce depression. Stress can elevate dopamine in the prefrontal cortex and limbic system, making things feel more serious and more real. SSRI's may work by resetting the balance of dopamine/serotonin in these regions.
When SSRI's make people apathetic, sometimes the answer is less SSRI not dopaminergic augmentation.
Too much dopamine can cause apathy too.
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:918139
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090921/msgs/918577.html