Posted by linkadge on June 30, 2010, at 19:15:02
In reply to Re: The biology of depression » linkadge, posted by jade k on June 30, 2010, at 11:30:13
>So you're saying that when a person who is >bipolar becomes manic, the cause might not be >the trigger of sleep deprivation, as in >exhaustion, SD can actually cause changes in >dopamine activity which in turn triggers >the "episode" of mania?
Exactly, if sleep deprivation simply exhausted depression by causing extreme sedation, then you'd expect it to have an antimanic effect, or an antipsychotic effect which it doesn't. There is a proposed "psychostimulant" like effect of sleep deprivation, in which dopaminergic activity is increased. There are interactions between melatonin, adenosine, MAO-B. Sleep deprivation can also cause surges in thyroid hormonses (in responders). Some people stay awake for periods of time to get a high, or even to promote hallucinations. Some people might use "all-nighters" as a form of self medication. Some people with ADHD, claim that they are most productive at early hours of the morning. In animals, sleep deprivation increases dopaminergic receptor sensitivity, and can prevent depression induced by social defeat.
Sleep deprivation can also be pro-convulsant, which is also consistent with an antidepressant, or promanic effect.
>I saw sleep deprivation pull someone I know out >of a significant depression. How long that >lasted, I don't recall. Its never worked for me.
No, it doesn't work for everbody. For me, sleep deprivation can kill the profound anhedonia I get with depression. If you stay up the entire night, there is something "different" about the world the next day. Something mystical and otherworldly about things. Sometimes, the combination of sleep deprivation and ativan can be really effective, since I tend to become a little overanxious if I lose sleep. It seems to make sleep deprivation a little easier to handle.
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:952373
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100628/msgs/952736.html