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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by dessbee on December 11, 2006, at 2:17:55
Found an interesting article about depression
Posted by verne on December 11, 2006, at 2:17:55
In reply to Article on Biological Basis of Depression, posted by dessbee on December 8, 2006, at 16:23:39
Posted by Phillipa on December 11, 2006, at 11:29:19
In reply to Article on Biological Basis of Depression, posted by dessbee on December 8, 2006, at 16:23:39
I must have a very small brain by now. Love Phillipa
Posted by dessbee on December 11, 2006, at 14:56:24
In reply to Re: Article on Biological Basis of Depression, posted by Phillipa on December 11, 2006, at 11:29:19
Consequences of Omega-3 Deficiency in the
Central Nervous System: Hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neuron cell body size decreases.http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/8/4/410.pdf
Phillipa, I wish you a larger hippocampus for Christmas ;-) so don't forget to eat fatty fish.
/dessbee
Posted by linkadge on December 11, 2006, at 15:31:12
In reply to Re: Article on Biological Basis of Depression » Phillipa, posted by dessbee on December 11, 2006, at 14:56:24
I've been to this site, but I have serious reserves about what the site claims.
For instance:
"A big part of what causes depression is in a single gene."
Thats just simply **not** true. The site is trying to suggest that depression is a result of disturbances in the serotonin transporter gene, the site which SSRI drugs effect.
This is simply not true however, as studies have not even come close to prooving this suggestion.
The proposition that the serotonin transporter gene is involved in depression was simply a reverse logic proposition made by those who noted that SSRI's have some effect in depression.
It is of course more complicated than I understand, but I would be extremely reluctant to believe any site which claims depression is due to a single gene.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on December 11, 2006, at 19:50:18
In reply to Re: Article on Biological Basis of Depression » Phillipa, posted by dessbee on December 11, 2006, at 14:56:24
Thank-you that was so sweet!!!!!Love Phillipa ps I'm getting some tomorrow as there is another link on them as well. Used to take them. Stopped . Guess I had no money. Any suggestions on the brand?
Posted by SLS on December 12, 2006, at 6:13:58
In reply to Re: Article on Biological Basis of Depression, posted by linkadge on December 11, 2006, at 15:31:12
> I've been to this site, but I have serious reserves about what the site claims.
>
> For instance:
>
> "A big part of what causes depression is in a single gene."
>
> Thats just simply **not** true. The site is trying to suggest that depression is a result of disturbances in the serotonin transporter gene, the site which SSRI drugs effect.
>
> This is simply not true however, as studies have not even come close to prooving this suggestion.
>
> The proposition that the serotonin transporter gene is involved in depression was simply a reverse logic proposition made by those who noted that SSRI's have some effect in depression.
>
> It is of course more complicated than I understand, but I would be extremely reluctant to believe any site which claims depression is due to a single gene.
I also wonder sometimes if the reduction in the volume seen in the hippocamus isn't really the result of depression rather than the cause of it. Perhaps the term "atrophy" isn't very far from the truth.Any thoughts?
- Scott
Posted by dessbee on December 12, 2006, at 13:57:00
In reply to Re: Article on Biological Basis of Depression » dessbee, posted by Phillipa on December 11, 2006, at 19:50:18
Sorry, not good on brands. For some reason I suffer insomnia and acne from fish oil supplements. I eat fatty fish daily instead.
Studies show you will need 1 gram of EPA (roughly 8-9 gram of fish oil) daily.
Full effect from fish oil takes 8-10 weeks.Beware that some will experience insomnia from fish oil supplements.
Take care
Posted by Phillipa on December 12, 2006, at 17:54:56
In reply to Re: Article on Biological Basis of Depression » Phillipa, posted by dessbee on December 12, 2006, at 13:57:00
Thanks just started Carlson's today. I used to take it never heard of it affecting sleep? Love Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on December 12, 2006, at 20:12:24
In reply to Re: Article on Biological Basis of Depression » linkadge, posted by SLS on December 12, 2006, at 6:13:58
>I also wonder sometimes if the reduction in the >volume seen in the hippocamus isn't really the >result of depression rather than the cause of >it. Perhaps the term "atrophy" isn't very far >from the truth.
You could be right. Its like depression may lead to heart problems, but heart problems are not (always) the cause of the depression.
Some studies say the longer a person is depressed the smaller the hippocampus gets. Well, that means that it probably started out at a larger volume.
That would seem to confirm what you are saying, that depression itself is shrinking the hippocampus.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on December 12, 2006, at 20:23:36
In reply to Re: Article on Biological Basis of Depression » dessbee, posted by Phillipa on December 12, 2006, at 17:54:56
I actually emailed this guy to ask him about the contraditions in his website.
The page basically talks about how the short-short version of the serotonin transporter is linked to depression and achoholism. He then makes the mistake of taking this as proof that SSRI's are fixing the problem, without realizing that SSRI's are actually making the brain more like that of people posessing the SS varient.
When serotonin is in short supply, apparently the serotonin tranporter drops to try and compensate. The same thing goes with norepiniephrine and dopamine. That is why low NET has also been found in depression.
So, maybe there is a problem with synthesis, rather than reuptake.
The 5-ht1b receptors are involved in serotonin uptake and synthesis in the brain. I believe that depression induced supersentitivity of presynaptic 5-ht1b will significantly reduce the rate of serotonin sythsis in the brain.
Mark my words, I am going to put my money on presynaptic 5-ht1b autoreceptor antagonists for depression.
There is an endogenious antagonist of 5-ht1b autoreceptors called the 5-ht moduline. It controlls the activity of 5-ht1b. Anyhow, supposedly it is altered in depression. It interacts with P11. Don't know much more, but that agents which interact with 5-ht1b autoreceptors (like lithium) can help depression as fast as lithium can without all the nasty intracellular stuff which detract from lithiums antidepressant effect.
I just hope sombody makes a break, cause the case for the concept of an antidepressant has taken some hits in recent years.
Sorry for blithering.
Linkadge
Posted by dessbee on December 13, 2006, at 8:51:17
In reply to Re: Article on Biological Basis of Depression, posted by linkadge on December 12, 2006, at 20:23:36
I think the single gene theory in the article should not be taken too seriously.
The article is pro 'serotonin hypothesis'. I myself believe SSRI is not the true cure for depression, it only works partially through alleviating HPA-axis dysfunction.For sure, the etiology of depression is some evil gene/genes, an evildoer, that makes you vulnerable to stress. The pathogenesis of depression seems long term. HPA-axis is a feedback system that if not controlled can increase cortisol levels and cause hippocampus shrinkage, which aggrevate symptoms and stress sensitivity.
Posted by linkadge on December 13, 2006, at 10:15:01
In reply to Re: Article on Biological Basis of Depression, posted by dessbee on December 13, 2006, at 8:51:17
Sounds good to me.
I think we need to start working on better chill pills. Drugs designed to quickly fix up a crazed HPA axis.
Linkadge
This is the end of the thread.
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