Posted by SLS on July 9, 2005, at 21:31:09
In reply to Maybe I shouldn't have posted... » linkadge, posted by Racer on July 9, 2005, at 13:20:53
> Maybe I shouldn't have posted this.
Why not?
Unfortunately, what you have drawn attention to is a ubiquitous topic of debate and contention. There should be none at this point in human history, but there is. To some, the world is still flat. For them, anything that upsets this notion often brings about defensiveness and a panicked attempt at expousing a liturgy without the enlightenment that humanity's objecive investigation into mental illness has demonstrated.
I think you are in agreement with most others along this thread that abnormal biological function contributes to most cases of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Bipolar Disorder (BD). I see that there is some confusion here as to semantics and the descriptions of the details of the varying models of the etiologies of these disorders.
I think there is some confusion as to what a theory is.
Evolution is still a theory. We here this expression used all the time by those who would have us believe that evolution has not been proven. It has. It is a fact that it occurs. However, there are varying theories as to how it occurs. Likewise, it is now a fact that MDD and BD are illnesses involving brain function. However, there are varying theories as to how this occurs. One theory is that there is a chemical imbalance within the synapse between neurons. Other theories try to incorporate recent observations involving the abnormal structure and function of the brain.
Is depression the result of a chemical imbalance?
I don't know. However, I am sure that depression can be a disorder of the brain.
From the NIMH, NIH:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depresfact.cfm
"Evidence from neuroscience, genetics, and clinical investigation demonstrate that depression is a disorder of the brain. Modern brain imaging technologies are revealing that in depression, neural circuits responsible for the regulation of moods, thinking, sleep, appetite, and behavior fail to function properly, and that critical neurotransmitters—chemicals used by nerve cells to communicate—are out of balance. Genetics research indicates that vulnerability to depression results from the influence of multiple genes acting together with environmental factors. Studies of brain chemistry and of mechanisms of action of antidepressant medications continue to inform the development of new and better treatments."
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:525148
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050708/msgs/525581.html