Posted by SLS on March 16, 2013, at 7:04:03
In reply to Is This Peptide a Key to Happiness?, posted by ihatedrugs on March 15, 2013, at 19:55:55
> Interesting article.
>
> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130307145720.htm
Hypocretin, more often known as orexin, has been shown to increase wakefulness, but not so much depressed mood. Provigil (modafinil) increases orexin (although its promotion of wakefulness may involve histamine). Provigil is not a robust antidepressant. I am not convinced that manipulating orexin produces profound and persistent changes in MDD or BD depressive states. The studies referenced don't support the idea that it does. The presence of sadness alone does not indicate clinical depression. Feelings of happiness are not sufficient to impact upon the remaining symptoms of a depressive syndrome. A great many depressed people experience loss of interest and motivation without experiencing sadness. Determining associations without establishing directionality makes it difficult to conclude cause-and-effect.I don't dispute the findings of the physiologic studies. However, I do question the degree to which they can be extrapolated to depressive illness and provide direction to the creation of new therapies. At the very least, they should study MDD or BD patients rather than epileptic patients before drawing any conclusions. I think the article was a bit premature in its clinical suggestions.
- ScottSome see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1040422
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20130308/msgs/1040443.html