Understanding the Brain
Depression
Brain Damage Causing Depression & Effects on the Brain
Injury to: Amygdala, Thalmus, and/or Hippocampus
Resulting from:
- Physical Injury: Redirected, Increased blood flow in the Amygdala.
- Emotional Response to Injury: Struggling to adjust to temporary or lasting disability
- Inherited Genes: Other factors present prior to injury.
Brain Areas of Concern applicable to Depression
- Amygdala: Part of the Limbic system: Associated with emotions: Anger, Pleasure, Sorrow, Fear, Sexual arousal. Activated when a person recalls emotionally charged memories. Activity in the Amygdala is higher when a person is sad or clinically depressed.
Thalamus: Receives most sensory information and relays it to the appropriate part of the cerebral cortex, directing high-level functions: Speech, Behavioral reactions, Movement, Thinking, Learning.
Hippocampus: Part of the Limbic system: Processes long-term memory and recollection. The part of the brain that registers fear and later memory recall of that experience.
Behavioral Changes & Treatment
- Impulsive Acts/Suicidal tenancies
- Consistent & repeated Unhappy Mood, Loss of Interest, energy, appetite
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Alternating between normal and depressed moods (Unipolar Depression)
Treatments:
- Medications: (affecting the Monoamine transmitters - increases in Nephrine, Dopamine, Serotonin) Antidepressants: SSRI's - Sertraline, Citalopram or SNRI's - Venlafaxine.
- Psychotherapeutic (Counseling): CBT - Cognitive-behavioral Therapy and/or Behavioral Activation Therapy
- ECT - Electroconvulsive Shock Therapy (A procedure prior to SSRI's/SNRI's)
- Other options: Exercise, Acupuncture, Biofeedback
The Normal Brain
Brain Indentifications
Healthy (Left), Damaged Amygdala (Right)
References:
Amen, D. (n.d.). Functional Neuroanatomy - Amen Clinics. Retrieved November 11, 2015, from http://www.amenclinics.com/index.php/the-science/spect-gallery/item/functional-neuroanatomy?category_id=127
Bosley, T. (2012, July 7). How Does the Brain Work? - Human Cognition | PSYCHOLOGY &BRAIN SCIENCE VIDEO. Retrieved November 11, 2015, from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQEiux-AOzs
Breedlove, S., & Watson, N. (2013). Biological psychology: An introduction to behavioral,
cognitive, and clinical neuroscience (7th ed.). Sunderland, MA: Sinauer.
Fann, J.R., Hart, T., Schomer, K.G.. Treatment for Depression after Traumatic Brain Injury: A
Systematic Review. Journal of Neurotrauma 26:2383-2402, 2009 - See more at: http://www.msktc.org/tbi/factsheets/Depression-After-Traumatic-Brain-Injury#sthash.XCe6oZe9.dpuf
What causes depression? - Harvard Health. (2009, June 9). Retrieved November 11, 2015, from: http://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/what-causes-depression