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Depression-Help-Center.com |
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Causes | Basics | Symptoms | Signs | Types of Depression
Biological Causes | Genetic
Causes | Environmental Causes
Psychological Causes | Medical
Illness Causes | Other Causes.
Biological Causes of Depression
The exact cause or causes of depression remains unclear despite years of study. One school of thought is that biological factors can be primary causes of depression. What is known is that the human brain is the "computer" or "command center" of the body. This organ controls the basic functions of our bodies (breathing, digestion, etc.), our movements, our thoughts and our emotions. Therefore a considerable amount of research has targeted the brain, its structure, how it functions and what can influence brain function.
Neurotransmitters
One of the most accepted explanations concerning the biological causes of clinical depression is that it is an imbalance in certain chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) in the brain. This is the basis upon which treatment with antidepressant drugs is based.
The are about 30 chemical messengers or neurotransmitters that transfer messages between nerve cells in the brain. Researchers have discovered relationships between three of these neurotransmitters and clinical depression. These three neurotransmitters, serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, help the brain regulate appetite, sexuality, emotions, reactions to stress, and sleep.
Despite all of the research it is unkown if changes in the levels of neurotransmitters cause the development of depression or if depressions causes changes in the levels of neurotransmitters. And this leads us to a very important, and unanswered question: If depression is caused by an imbalance in neurotransmitters, what caused the change in the level of the neurotransmitters?
Hormonal Causes
There are a number of organs in the body that produce hormones that can influence brain function. Hormonal irregularities can be caused by number of medical conditions such as thyroid disorders, Cushing's syndrome, and Addison's disease. And the development of clinical depression may be a symptom of an organ disorder. However, much is not known and the reverse may be true - that clinical depression causes an organ disorder - producing hormonal irregularities.
Limbic System
The limbic systsem is the part of the brain that regulates various activites such as emotions, physical drive, sex drive, and stress response. There are various structures of the limbic system, such as the hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus, that are of keen interest to researchers. The activities of the limbic system are extremely complex, and it is believed that a disorder in part of it can affect mood and behavior.
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