Which neurotransmitter is most closely associated with major depressive disorder?
Serotonin Show Many antidepressant pharmaceuticals on the market today work by attempting to manipulate serotonin levels. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are among the most prominent and long-standing depression meds. Lexapro, Zoloft, Paxil, and Prozac (or escitalopram, sertraline, paroxetine, and fluoxetine, respectively) are all SSRI drugs. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that plays a critical role in mood regulation. It also helps the brain efficiently send signals related to hunger, sleepiness, pain, sickness, and all sorts of aspects of our emotional state. While much of our body’s serotonin is found elsewhere, such as in the digestive tract, it is often most closely associated with the brain due to the critical messaging roles it plays in your nervous system. SSRIs are long-term maintenance drugs designed to build up in your body over time, and, consequently, withdrawals can be serious. Norepinephrine An important hormone, norepinephrine is perhaps most closely associated with the “flight or fight” response that occurs when you’re faced with a particularly stressful situation. It is also central to the way your brain and body process the more well-known flight or fight hormone, adrenaline. Norepinephrine is also implicated in the regulation of blood pressure and the dilation of blood vessels. Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are a class of drugs similar to SSRIs, but they manipulate your body’s norepinephrine as well as its serotonin. Effexor XR (venlafaxine) is one popular example. DopamineDopamine is found in the brain’s reward center and can be explained in a fairly simple way — the more dopamine you have, the better you feel. This pleasurable sensation can help to reinforce positive behavior, build meaningful relationships, or motivate us to perform at a high level. However, it also plays a central role in the development of addiction. The euphoric dopamine release triggered by drug use, for example, can feel addictive in and of itself. Individuals are also subject to building up a dopamine tolerance. This means it will require more and more of the drug to continue achieving those pleasurable effects over time. In extreme cases, the dopamine “high” eventually becomes completely unattainable due to the high dose of drugs that would be required to achieve it, essentially “burning out” the user’s natural dopamine response. GlutamateGlutamate is an amino acid involved in conjuring up those excited, pleasurable sensations that come with mastering a new skill or recalling a favorite memory. In addition to playing a role in human brain health, it is also a naturally occurring substance in many foods. GABAGamma-aminobutyric acid, usually shortened to GABA, has also been the focus of much pharmaceutical antidepressant research. GABA helps you to process negative emotions like fear and anxiety by blocking or attenuating certain types of nervous system signals. Healthy GABA levels can help someone feel more at ease and maintain their cool in a stressful situation. Neurotransmitters and DepressionThe conventional wisdom among psychology and neuroscience experts has long held that low levels of neurotransmitters, like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, can be correlated to depression symptoms. While this holds true in a broad sense, it presents something of a “chicken or the egg” paradox. It’s not well understood or agreed upon whether a lack of these neurotransmitters is what causes depression, or the disease of depression is itself suppressing the production of these natural transmitters. Many chemicals play crucial roles in sending signals throughout the central nervous system, and they are thus crucial components of overall mental health. However, environmental stimuli, learned behavior, and genetic factors are often just as important when it comes to someone’s overall mental health picture. In any case, there is no evidence to suggest that “balancing” neurotransmitters or other chemicals represents some sort of cure for depression. Mental health is a deeply personal lifelong journey and not a chemical equation that can be neatly balanced with the right combination of ingredients. Which neurotransmitter is most associated with major depressive disorder?Serotonin is produced by serotonergic neurons. Current research suggests that a decrease in the production of serotonin by these neurons can cause depression in some people, and more specifically, a mood state that can cause some people to feel suicidal.
What neurotransmitters are involved in MDD?In particular, MDD patients showed disturbances in several neurotransmitters in the periphery and brain, including dopamine, glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and serotonin (5-HT)5,16,17,18 which were thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of the disorder.
What neurotransmitter increases depression?People with clinical depression often have increased levels of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), an enzyme that breaks down key neurotransmitters, resulting in very low levels of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.
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