Human Behavior & Psychology Depression Lecture “9”

Depression: it’s a common mental disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or
low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, and poor concentration.

Signs & Symptoms of depression:

• Loss of Sleep • Loss of Interest “Anhedonia”

• Loss of Appetite • Loss of Sexual desire

Depression Forms:

Reactive “70%” Depression that occurs in response to an external problem or stressor

Bipolar “17%” It is a mood disorder that can cause intense mood swing, sometimes you may feel extremely
"Manic depression" “happy”, other times you may feel “sad, hopeless”
Genetic ”13%” Genetically depression
What are the possible mechanisms of depression?

DEPRESSION is caused by Abnormalities in brain chemical levels” Transmitters , Neuroreceptors” may lead to
depression.
Depression is associated with insufficient central release of Norepinephrine , Dopamine and 5-HT “serotonin”.

Neuroreceptors synthesis
Lysosom
Formed in Action duration es digests
Externaliztion
cytoplasm from 2-3 hours the
receptor
Continuous stimulation of the receptors leads to Downregulation.
Neurotransmitters decrease , Neuroreceptors will increase ,which
Causes Upregulation.

Depression Treatment
Pharmacotherapy “ Antidepressant “

Antidepressants do not act immediately (show clinical effects after 2 weeks)

indicating that secondary adaptive changes in the brain are important.

Sites of Action for Antidepressants:

1- (NE or/ and 5-HT) re-uptake inhibitors:
A class of antidepressant that delay the body from reabsorbing the neurotransmitters into the Nerve
terminal ‘’TO avoid MAO enzymes’’ which make it available to Resynthesis.
2- Blockade of pre-synaptic a2 receptors:
To block alpha 2 , it’s a breakdown control its secretion
Its stop the excessive secretion of neurotransmitters especially ‘’NE’’ which NE extreme secretion leads to
Brain stroke ,Angina, Tachycardia ‘’ increase HR’’
3- Inhibition of MAO enzyme:
A class of antidepressant that inhibit MAO enzymes activity. Under supervision

Dr/Mohamed Elhshaer

Ra7em