Mental Illness New causes of depression discovered

In Germany, around four million people suffer from depression. According to health experts, there is usually more than one cause for the mental disorder. Researchers have now discovered that deficient brain reconnection could be a potential trigger for depression.
Depression is widespread
Depression is one of the most common diseases in this country. Almost one in ten Germans suffer at least once in their lives a depressive episode that can last weeks, months or even years. Currently, about four million Germans are suffering. According to health experts, depression is more than a single cause in most cases. The mental disorder can be promoted by stress, stressful life events or diseases such as hypothyroidism or Parkinson's. Although there are more and more days of absence due to depression in Germany, on the other hand many diseases are not diagnosed or diagnosed late. Often, depression is only diagnosed by the exclusion of other diseases. That could possibly change in the future.

Found a new cause for depression? Picture: © Picture-Factory - fotolia

Brain is less able to adapt to stimuli
Scientists at the University Hospital Freiburg have managed to establish a connection between the so-called "synaptic plasticity" in the brain and depressive episodes. The team around Professor Christoph Nissen of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy considers it very likely that a lack of synaptic plasticity could be the cause of depression. In a study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, the researchers found that neurons in the brain reconnect more slowly during depressive episodes, making it harder for the brain to adapt to new stimuli. With this reduced adaptability many symptoms of depression can be explained.

Study with few subjects
In the study, the scientists investigated the connection of nerve cells from 27 healthy and 27 depressed individuals. As the university explained in a communication, the researchers used a magnetic coil over the subjects' heads to stimulate a specific motor area in the brain responsible for controlling a thumb muscle and then measure how much the thumb muscle is activated. In the next step, the stimulus was combined with repeated stimulation of a nerve on the arm that sends information to the brain. The coupling had a learning process in the form of a stronger connection of nerve cells in the cerebral cortex (synaptic plasticity), the reaction was stronger than at the beginning of the experiment.

Improvements after the onset of depression
It was found that the depressive subjects actually had a reduced synaptic plasticity than those without a depressive episode. Follow-up measurements also proved that after the depressive episode subsided, brain activity was fully restored in previously depressed subjects. "In doing so, we have found a measurable change in the brain that coincides with the clinical condition over time," says Nissen. Researchers believe that decreased synaptic plasticity is a cause of depression rather than just a consequence. "Synaptic plasticity is a fundamental process in the brain. Changes could explain much of the symptoms of depression, "said Nissen.

Possible basis for new diagnostic procedures
Previous studies on animal models and other evidence in humans speak for a causal role. In addition to sleep deprivation and established depression therapy, all common antidepressant drugs, including medications, electroconvulsive therapy and exercise, have a positive effect on synaptic plasticity. If the new findings can be confirmed in further investigations, they could form the basis for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. So far, this is done through a personal conversation and the exclusion of other diseases. "The patients are severely affected and often extremely unsure. It would be a great help if we develop objective measuring methods that could contribute to the diagnosis and treatment planning, "said Nissen.

Depression can occur at any age
Basically, depression can occur at any age, for the first time most often between 20 and 30 years. Depression in children is also known. Those affected usually feel depressed, impulsive and disinterested. Mostly they sleep badly, tire easily and are often unable to feel. According to the experts, the treatment is psychotherapeutic in accordance with the guidelines, and additional medication in the case of a severe depressive episode. It has just been announced that the revised S3 guideline is intended to help further improve therapy. Above all, due to the frequent occurrence of thoughts of death, rapid professional help is needed. (Ad)