chris@nrcvax.UUCP (Chris Grevstad) (08/08/85)
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I am interested in finding out about chemical depression. It seems
(as reported by my mother) that numerous members of my family (mother,
uncle, cousin, grandmother, great-grandfather) have all been subject
to this thing called chemical depression. Used to alleviate it is
the drug imapramine, an anti-depressant.
Is anyone out there currently, or in a prior life been, under the care
of a physician for this malady? I am interested in whatever you can tell
me about it. Were tests given? What were your symptons? Were you
subject to chronic fatigue? How did you find out about it? Was your
doctor knowledgeable about this condition?
Thanks for any and all replies. Please mail them to :
...!sdcrdcf!psivax!nrcvax!chris
--
Chris Grevstad
{sdcsvax,hplabs}!sdcrdcf!psivax!nrcvax!chris
ucbvax!calma!nrcvax!chris
... you see, we are only a computer software programming
order of monks...brianm@bigtuna.UUCP (Brian Martin) (08/15/85)
Chemical depression is a misnomer--it refers to a theoretical subclassification of major depression, an affective disorder requiring psychiatric treatment. Basically, one category of patients with major depression have unusually low levels of norepinephrine (NE) metabolites in their urine, and it's been observed that these patients respond favorably to drugs that tend to increase the availability of NE in the central nervous system (CNS). On the other hand, another category of patients with major depression have unusually low levels of serotonin (5-HT) metabolites in their cerebro-spinal fluid, and this group of patients responds favorably to drugs that tend to increase the availability of 5-HT in the CNS. And there's yet a third type of major depression in which patients demonstrate an abnormal response to the hormone dexamethosone. The antidepressant medications used to treat these illnesses fall into two major categories: tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) and monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressants (MAO-I). (Lithium carbonate is also used to treat certain types of depression.) They are organized into various subclasses depending on their relative specificities for neural membrane receptor proteins. These drugs can affect a large number of organ systems within the body; serious side effects, even death can result if the antidepressant medication is improperly chosen or prescribed (for example, a person on MAO-I therapy could die from taking certain non-prescription cold remedies). Because of this, antidepressant therapy should only be administered by a properly trained physician, preferably a psychiatrist--one who can do a complete medical evaluation, who understands the various and many times complex interactions between the body's organ systems, and who is well-versed in the use of antidepressants. There are a number of other types of depression which fit neither of the classes described above, and which respond only marginally if at all to antidepressant medication. These people generally respond quite well to one of the various forms of psychotherapy currently practiced. Hope this answers some of your questions. Brian Martin University of Hawaii School of Medicine
omo@mcnc.UUCP (Julie Omohundro) (08/20/85)
> There are a number of other types of depression which fit neither of the > classes described above, and which respond only marginally if at all to > antidepressant medication. These people generally respond quite well to one > of the various forms of psychotherapy currently practiced. I will restrain myself from unnecessarily maligning psychotherapy, and will not try to discourage anyone suffering from depression from seeking this form of help. However, if the depression is severe, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE continue to seek MEDICAL help (from someone who is looking for a PHYSICAL cause), no matter how many dozens of doctors you have to go through, no matter how many tests you have to take, no matter how much it costs. Don't let ANYONE tell you that there is no physical cause, just because THEY can't find one.