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Deficiency of Neurotransmitters and its Effect on Major Depressive Disorder Outline

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Deficiency of Neurotransmitters and its Effect on Major Depressive Disorder Outline

I. Introduction

1. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious mental illness characterized by

long-lasting low mood, despair, and a lack of interest in or enjoyment from

formerly pleasurable activities (Gong et al., 2017). Deficits in neurotransmitters,

the brain's chemical messengers, have been linked to major depressive disorder

(MDD), yet the underlying causes of MDD remain unknown (Nutt, 2008).

2. Neurotransmitter deficiencies may cause MDD via three key mechanisms:

impaired mood regulation, decreased neuroplasticity, and disruptions in the

reward circuits.

II. Body

1. Disrupted Reward System

A. The reward system is controlled by dopamine, a neurotransmitter produced in

response to pleasant stimuli including food, sex, and drugs. Decreased levels

of dopamine or dysfunctional dopamine receptors may disrupt the brain's

reward system (Argyropoulos & Nutt, 2013; Costello et al., 2022). Reduced

desire to pursue rewarding activities may stem from a diminished reaction to

pleasurable stimuli. A lack of pleasure in life is one of the hallmarks of major

depressive disorder and is referred to as anhedonia (Argyropoulos & Nutt,

2013). One symptom of anhedonia is a loss of interest in formerly enjoyable

activities, which may contribute to a feeling of disconnection from the world

(Ng et al., 2019).

B. Depression and anxiety are only two of the bad feelings that may result from

the disturbance of the brain's reward system. The pleasure and reward deficit

causes a reduction in prefrontal brain activity, which in turn leads to emotional

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dysregulation (Gong et al., 2017). Decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex

has been linked to negative affect, which in turn may increase depression

symptoms (Gong et al., 2017).

2. Reduced Neuroplasticity

A. Impaired neuroplasticity may result from a lack of neurotransmitters, which

has been linked to major depressive disorder. The capacity of the brain to alter

and adapt in response to outside stimuli is known as neuroplasticity, and it is

crucial for the development of new neural connections (Brüchle et al., 2021;

Rădulescu et al., 2021).

B. Lack of glutamate and GABA, two neurotransmitters involved in the control

of neuroplasticity, may hinder the brain's responsiveness to novel stimuli and

environments (Brüchle et al., 2021; Yun, & Kim, 2022). Constant pessimism,

stress, and a lack of effective problem-solving abilities are all outcomes that

may lead to the development of MDD (Drevets, 2022).

3. Disrupted Mood Regulation

A. The lack of neurotransmitters may disrupt the brain's ability to regulate mood,

which can lead to major depressive disorder. Dysregulation of the brain's

emotional state may result from a lack of neurotransmitters like

norepinephrine and serotonin, which play a role in mood regulation (Joormann

& Gotlib, 2010). This action may contribute to the development of major

depressive disorder by keeping a person in a state of chronic melancholy,

anxiety, and irritation (Liu et al., 2018). Physical symptoms including

exhaustion, sleeplessness, and changes in appetite are often present in people

with MDD because of the difficulty they have in maintaining stable emotional

states (Joormann & Gotlib, 2010).

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B. Antidepressants that raise serotonin levels in the brain, for instance, have been

shown to be helpful in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in

which a serotonin shortage has been implicated (Joormann & Vanderlind,

2014; Jiang et al., 2022). An elevated level of norepinephrine has also been

linked to the onset of emotional distress.

III. Conclusion

1. There are three basic ways in which a neurotransmitter shortage might contribute

to the development of MDD: impaired mood regulation, decreased

neuroplasticity, and disruption of the reward pathways. Major depressive disorder

(MDD) is a complicated condition whose root causes remain unknown.

Neurotransmitter research, on the other hand, is yielding important insights on

how to treat major depressive disorder.

2. Understanding the involvement of neurotransmitters in MDD is important since

medications that target certain neurotransmitter systems have been found to be

successful in treating the illness. In the end, the quality of life for people who

suffer from MDD may be enhanced by a deeper comprehension of the part

neurotransmitters play in the disorder's onset.

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References

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Brüchle, W., Schwarzer, C., Berns, C., Schneefeld, J., Koester, D., Schack, T., &

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