Lindsey Loeber

Chemistry 5th
May 11, 2017
Chemical Equilibrium Project

What causes depression?

In this article I discovered the basic facts about the causes of depression, and different hormones
and parts of the brain that are involved. This source is very credible as it it from Harvard Medical
School. I learned that there are many aspects to contribute to depression and the imbalances that
occur. Research has concluded that nerve cell growth and connections and functioning of nerve
circuits impact depression. There are certain areas of the brain such as the amygdala,
hippocampus, and the thalamus that regulate functions such as mood and memory that may be
affected by depression. Research has shown that slow production of neurons in the hippocampus
may cause low moods. Neurotransmitters are also deeply important to the communication of
cells. Antidepressants are targeted to increase the concentration of these substances in synapses
(in between neurons). Both chemical and electrical signals are used to communicate between
neurons. Situations that may cause this process to become unbalanced is when receptors may be
oversensitive, causing responses to be inadequate or excessive, or if too many molecules have
been absorbed by a reuptake before the receptors and neurons can bind. The three types of
neurotransmitters that are most involved in depression are serotonin, norepinephrine, and
dopamine, which affect mood/sleep/appetite, motivation/reward, and movement/reality. Genes,
temperament, trauma, and stress are also products that contribute to the imbalances of
depression.
Publications, Harvard Health. "What Causes Depression?" Harvard Health. Harvard University,
June 2009. Web. 5 May 2017.

How Antidepressants Work In The Brain

In this article, the topic of antidepressants was discussed. I discovered that the only
antidepressants that have been developed are those that control the effect of neurotransmitters on
the brain. SSRIS, or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, are supposedly safer and have less
negative side effects. These drugs inhibit serotonin from being absorbed into their original nerve
cells that recycle neurotransmitters. Studies have shown that with this extra serotonin, depression
patients can find relief from extreme sadness and hopelessness. Some research has also shown
that antidepressants are also able to improve the growth of nerve cell branching in the
hippocampus. There are many types of antidepressants that target different hormones in the
brain, and each have a somewhat different effects and outcomes, such as SNRIs and NDRIs
(inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine), SARIs (inhibit and prevent binding of serotonin), and
MAOIs (inhibit monoamine oxidase from breaking down serotonin, epinephrine, and dopamine.
Rivas, Anthony. "How Antidepressants Work In The Brain." Medical Daily. Medical Daily, 03
June 2015. Web. 11 May 2017.

Learn Depression Statistics and Facts

In this infographic, I learned about the statistics of depression in the United States. One in ten
Americans are affected by depression. Over 80% of people who experience clinical depression
are not receiving any form of treatment for their depression. Every year, the number of patients
diagnosed increases by 20%. Common factors that come with depression include obesity, stroke,
lack of motivation, heart disease, sleep disorders, unemployment, and relationship problems. The
most prevalent age group that suffers from this disease is age 45-64. Women are known to have
higher rates than men, and are twice as likely to have symptoms as men who are the same age.
Those who are diagnosed spend close to $23,000 a year on healthcare, versus $11,400 who do
not have any symptoms of depression. It is estimated that 121 million people around the world
are currently suffering from some form of depression.
"Depression Statistics: Unhappiness by the Numbers [INFOGRAPHIC]." Healthline. Healthline
Media, 2012. Web. 7 May 2017.

Coping With Side Effects of Antidepressants

In this article, I decided to research the effects that antidepressants have on the patients who take
them. Although they help you recover, it sometimes takes time for them start working and also
often times have many negative side effects. One study showed that 65% of 1,000 surveyed said
they stopped taking their medicine before told to. Newly developed antidepressants such as
SSRIs have shown to have less side effects than older drugs than older drugs. Some negative side
effects include insomnia, anxiety, nausea, headaches, and weight loss or gain. Some other effects
have also been recorded, in children and adolescents, that are much more severe but very rare.
They are suicidal thoughts and blurred vision and judgement. With Monoamine oxidase
inhibitors, food allergies have also been created, causing serious reactions with certain foods,
sometimes fatal.
"Coping With Side Effects of Antidepressants." WebMD. WebMD, 20005. Web. 9 May 2017.

Depression: Dopamine vs. Serotonin?

This article compared the two hormones serotonin and dopamine, and evaluated how strongly
both have an effect on the brain of a patient with depression. I researched that low dopamine
levels causes a loss of thinking skills, organization, and memory. However, low levels of
serotonin cause impulsive and sometimes obsessive thoughts. There are some links between the
two. Studies have shown that people who finish treatment by SSRIs come off medication with
abnormally low levels of serotonin. There is a theory that if the low dopamine levels were
targeted first, the drugs may have been more successful because the two hormones would be
more balanced. New triple reuptake drugs that have been developed have proven to be less
successful, since three hormones are trying to be regulated versus two. Overall, this article
showed that dopamine needs more attention in regards to depression, rather than only focusing
on serotonin, and it is likely that more patients would see results if both hormones were focused
on.
"Depression: Dopamine vs. Serotonin: Which Is More Important?" Mental Health Daily. Mental
Health Blog, 11 Jan. 2017. Web. 12 May 2017.

https://infograph.venngage.com/publish/df34fac9-f06f-44cc-90fd-41fcd601e021