Joining the dots: neurobiological links in a functional analysis of depression

• Main Authors: Bitsika Vicki, Sharpley Christopher F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2010-12-01
• Series: Behavioral and Brain Functions
• Online Access: http://www.behavioralandbrainfunctions.com/content/6/1/73

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Depression is one of the major contributors to the Total Disease Burden and afflicts about one-sixth of Western populations. One of the most effective treatments for depression focuses upon analysis of causal chains in overt behaviour, but does not include brain-related phenomena as steps along these causal pathways. Recent research findings regarding the neurobiological concomitants of depressive behaviour suggest a sequence of structural and functional alterations to the brain which may also produce a beneficial outcome for the depressed individual--that of adaptive withdrawal from uncontrollable aversive stressors. Linking these brain-based explanations to models of observable contingencies for depressive behaviour can provide a comprehensive explanation of how depressive behaviour occurs and why it persists in many patients.</p>