In treating depression, medications often focus on treating low serotonin levels, but a new article written on Mental Health Daily has brought up the idea that dopamine levels should also be treated when dealing with depression.
Depression is a rather subjective illness and has a number of causes like difficult periods of life, abuse, trauma, drug use, or other difficulties. Depression can also arise as a result of genetics and biological factors. Because of the many causes of depression, its hard to pinpoint the exact relationship between neurotransmitter levels and the cause of depression.
However, serotonin is commonly believed to be the neurotransmitter that causes depression, because antidepressants are far more often selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, not dopamine supplements.
The anonymous writer of the article states that he or she believes that dopamine plays an equal if not greater role in treating depression. This is because people with low dopamine often have difficulties with memory, thinking, organization, and experience an inability to feel pleasure, and these can all help cause depression. Additionally, many schizophrenics have extremely low dopamine levels and are therefore unable to get motivated or stay productive.
Low dopamine levels tend to have difficulties thinking, remembering, and reacting quickly, symptoms common in those with Parkinson's disease. Additionally, they experience anhedonia i.e. lack of ability to feel pleasure. People with low dopamine levels can also feel similar to individuals with schizophrenia, having no motivation. Low serotonin on the other hand can result in OCD-like symptoms, impulsiveness, suicidal feelings, aggressive behavior, mood swings, sugar cravings, worrying, insomnia, and madness.
Researchers are beginning to develop drugs that target serotonin, norepinephrine, as well as dopamine. The author of the article doesn't believe that targeting all three neurotransmitters is necessary though; it would be more favorable to target either dopamine or serotonin and determine which class of drug works better. The "triple reuptake inhibitors" sounds like illicit drugs because of the extra neurotransmitters between synapses, making the author believe that a withdrawal could occur when taking triple reuptake inhibitors.
There is a multitude of classes of drugs that could work for treating depression, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors, and just norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.
Many people are not aware of the fact that abnormally low levels of dopamine, not serotonin, could indeed be the culprit for depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, the only time that dopamine is going to be targeted is with the "triple reuptake inhibitor" medications, which is most likely a bad idea.
Sources
Depression: Dopamine vs. Serotonin: Which Is More Important? (n.d.). Retrieved June 4, 2015 from http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2014/04/09/depression-dopamine-vs-serotonin-which-is-more-important/.
Depression is a rather subjective illness and has a number of causes like difficult periods of life, abuse, trauma, drug use, or other difficulties. Depression can also arise as a result of genetics and biological factors. Because of the many causes of depression, its hard to pinpoint the exact relationship between neurotransmitter levels and the cause of depression.
However, serotonin is commonly believed to be the neurotransmitter that causes depression, because antidepressants are far more often selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, not dopamine supplements.
The anonymous writer of the article states that he or she believes that dopamine plays an equal if not greater role in treating depression. This is because people with low dopamine often have difficulties with memory, thinking, organization, and experience an inability to feel pleasure, and these can all help cause depression. Additionally, many schizophrenics have extremely low dopamine levels and are therefore unable to get motivated or stay productive.
Low dopamine levels tend to have difficulties thinking, remembering, and reacting quickly, symptoms common in those with Parkinson's disease. Additionally, they experience anhedonia i.e. lack of ability to feel pleasure. People with low dopamine levels can also feel similar to individuals with schizophrenia, having no motivation. Low serotonin on the other hand can result in OCD-like symptoms, impulsiveness, suicidal feelings, aggressive behavior, mood swings, sugar cravings, worrying, insomnia, and madness.
Researchers are beginning to develop drugs that target serotonin, norepinephrine, as well as dopamine. The author of the article doesn't believe that targeting all three neurotransmitters is necessary though; it would be more favorable to target either dopamine or serotonin and determine which class of drug works better. The "triple reuptake inhibitors" sounds like illicit drugs because of the extra neurotransmitters between synapses, making the author believe that a withdrawal could occur when taking triple reuptake inhibitors.
There is a multitude of classes of drugs that could work for treating depression, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors, and just norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.
Many people are not aware of the fact that abnormally low levels of dopamine, not serotonin, could indeed be the culprit for depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, the only time that dopamine is going to be targeted is with the "triple reuptake inhibitor" medications, which is most likely a bad idea.
Sources
Depression: Dopamine vs. Serotonin: Which Is More Important? (n.d.). Retrieved June 4, 2015 from http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2014/04/09/depression-dopamine-vs-serotonin-which-is-more-important/.