Posted by chumbawumba on May 12, 2009, at 0:48:57
In reply to Re: Antidepressants Hardly Help ????????? » chumbawumba, posted by SLS on May 12, 2009, at 0:06:35
Of course, biological processes are amenable to measurement. Pathological or not. And since all depression is a pathology that is a phenomenon of mind which manifests biologically it too can be measured. I suspect some people with longer term untreated depression would show anatomic changes whereas in others the differences would only be visible as fMRI or PET hotspots and cold spots.
I also suspect as the technology improves more will be learned about the differences between normal and depressed brain functioning. And if we look closely enough I'll bet we'll even be able to track in real time the changes in the brain as a person has a "hopeless thought" versus a "hopeful though". I don't think we're there yet.
It is well known that there is an interaction between the environment and the genetic code, feedback loops that control gene expression. For example the transcription of the gene which codes for lactase being turned on and off by the presence of lactose. I suspect there are many feedback loops at play in depression involving stress hormones and gene expression. Many things we do not understand quite yet but either can be measured or will lend themselves to measurement as the technology improves.
Perhaps it will even be possible to identify depressive subtypes. I suspect very strongly though that it won't break down into neat catgories like Major Depression, Dythymia, and Depressive personality disorder.
Nevertheless, I think all that will be very educational. But the first step is always the patient. "How you doing? How are you feeling? Are you depressed. Do you feel hopeless, do you want to die?" I think this is probably about the best we've got, and probably just as good an indicator that something is awry as anything else.
poster:chumbawumba
thread:895119
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090505/msgs/895319.html