What in the brain causes depression?

Answer 1

depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain this is the result of thoughts or emotions that were troubling for a person. Some factors can also be triggered The three most important of these are biological, genetic, and environmental factors. Genetic Factors
Scientists believe genetic factors play a role in some depressions. Researchers are hopeful, for instance, that they are closing in on genetic markers for susceptibility to manic-depressive disorder.

Recent genetic research also supports earlier studies reporting family links in depression. For example, if one identical twin suffers from depression or manic-depressive disorder, the other twin has a 70 percent chance of also having the illness. Other studies that looked at the rate of depression among adopted children supported this finding. Depressive illnesses among adoptive family members had little effect on a child's risk of depression; however, the disorder was three times more common among adopted children whose biological relatives suffered depression.

Biological Causes
Additional research data indicate that people suffering from depression have imbalances of neurotransmitters, natural substances that allow brain cells to communicate with one another. Two transmitters implicated in depression are serotonin and norepinephrine. Scientists think a deficiency in serotonin may cause the sleep problems, irritability, and anxiety associated with depression. Likewise, a decreased amount of norepinephrine, which regulates alertness and arousal, may contribute to the fatigue and depressed mood of the illness.Other body chemicals also may be altered in depressed people. Among them is cortisol, a hormone that the body produces in response to stress, anger, or fear. In normal people the level of cortisol in the bloodstream peaks in the morning, then decreases as the day progresses. In depressed people, however, cortisol peaks earlier in the morning and does not level off or decrease in the afternoon or evening.

Researchers don't know if these imbalances cause the disease or if the illness gives rise to the imbalances. They do know that cortisol levels will increase in anyone who must live with long-term stress.

Environmental Situations
Certain environmental situations, such as stress or breakup of important attachments, also may precipitate depression, especially in vulnerable persons.

Answer 2

Nobody knows for sure, but research shows it might be different brain chemicals/hormones called neurotransmitters.

Endorphins control pain, Epinephrine/Norepinephrine (also called Adrenaline/Noradrenaline if they come from the adrenal glands) control mood, Serotonin controls mood and anxiety, Melatonin controls sleep and possibly mood as well (especially if the depression is seasonal). All of these may control depression.

Many people have relief from depression if they take medication that controls some of the above neurotransmitters. Oddly enough, sometimes depressed people are tested for neurotransmitter levels and it's not any different than people who aren't depressed--nobody seems to know for sure why that is.

Answer 3

It hasn't been worked out precisely. It's also probably multifactorial. Partly, depression is a behavior pattern that can't be reduced to a discrete physical cause. Other components of depression are thought to be related to levels of chemicals called neurotransmitters, and their receptors. Serotonin is one neurotransmitter system treated by many antidepressants -- the SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Other neurotransmitters invovled might include norepinepherine and dopamine. Different drugs target a different milieu of these chemicals. There are likely contributions from other areas of brain chemistry, including melatonin -- the light-responsive chemical responsible for your sleep-wake cycles.

Answer 4

it could just be that your depressed, some ppl are like that even w/o a reason, or if your brain injury happened to the part of your brain that directs emotion, ya, it could definitely be the cause of your depression! and thats actually really cool that the accident might have helped you in math! maybe i should get a brain injury! lol jk. but i hope you figure this out!

Answer 5

Serotonin levels, mainly. I can't remember, but there are other hormones that may affect the brain too as endorphins can help lift your mood. Sometimes you have a genetic predisposition to depression, and sometimes it's a lot of factors that cause your brain to react by cutting the serotonin levels.

Answer 6

I just got done readding depression for dummies and the cause is way beyond explaination on this site - you really need to go to a medical explaination website -- good luck

Answer 7

It's not jsut your neurotransmitters, a lot of people in this time suffer from depression because of heritage. It can easily be passed down from your parents.

Answer 8

serotonin