New Depression Treatments Reported

According to an evidence-based report in the journal Current Psychiatry, new treatments for depression will include new medications, electrical and magnetic stimulation of the brain, and long-term cognitive behavioral therapy for stress management. Commonly used antidepressants are designed to either increase the release or block the degradation of three neurotransmitters — dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin — however, drugs such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil, induce the remission of depression in fewer than half of patients. This prompted researchers to look beyond neurotransmitters for an understanding of depressive disorders. New theories are focusing on differences in neuron density in the various regions of the brain, the effects of inflammation evoked by the stress response on brain cells, and the alterations of feedback pathways. Researchers also identified more than a dozen potential biomarkers of depression in order to integrate a more expansive understanding of the pathophysiology of depression. To read more about this study, click here.