Depression
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Psychology
Characterized as an overstable state, in which cognition is rigidly pessimistic Holtzheimer2011.
- Trait pessimism has been linked to deficient 5-HT2a receptor stimulation Bhagwagar2006 Meyer2003 (src: Carhart-Harris2012), particularly in the mPFC
- mPFC hyperactivity has been linked to pathological brooding Farb2011
Inflammatory markers
- Elevated cytokine serum levels in living MDD patients
- C-reactive protein associated with depressive symptom severity
- Increased serum levels of IL-6, IL-1B, IL-5 in panic disorder patients.
- Cytokines can change amygdala activity and increase anxiety-like behavior.
Neurotrophin Hypothesis
Largely based on correlations b/w stress & antidepressant treatment. However, changes in brain morphology and activity can be related to differences in BDNF, where neurogenesis & dendritic arborization in hippocampus & PFC are reduced, while in NAc and AMY are increased, resulting in symptoms of depression.