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Depression
Unipolar Depression
DSM - IV Criteria (5 or more symptoms over a 2
week period)
depressed mood
diminished interest or pleasure (anhedonia)
weight or appetite increase or decrease
sleeping too much or too little
feeling very agitated or physically slowed
loss of energy
feelings of worthlessness or guilt
difficulty concentrating or making decisions
thoughts of death or suicide
Population Frequency
 9-26%
females lifetime will get unipolar depression
 5-12%
males will get uni-polar
depression
 for
both m/f only 1 % will come
down with Bipolar disorder.
Unipolar Depression continued
Left frontal lobe =
approach/joy
Right frontal lobe =
withdrawal/distress
Underactive left frontal EEG in adults
and in children
University of Washington Research (Dr.
Dawson)
 Children
of depressed mothers:
Frontal EEG activity during play at
one year of age
Left about equal to right
 Children
of non-depressed mothers:
left greater than right
Unipolar Depression
 Low
levels of norepinephrine,
dopamine, and serotonin
 Biochemical treatments raise these
neurotransmitters
 amino acids: phenylalanine and or
tyrosine can raise dopamine and
norepinephrine
 Tryptophan can raise serotonin
 SAM-e (S-Adenosyl Methionine)
can increase dopamine and
epinephrine
Unipolar Depression
 MAO
inhibitors raise both
norepinephrine and serotonin
 SSRI’s
(Selective Serotonin Reuptate
Inhibitors) raises sertonin (e.g.,
prozac, paxil, zoloft)
Efficacy and Tolerability of Ze 117
St. John’s Wort Extract in
Comparison with Placebo,
Imipramine and Fluoxetine for the
Treatment of Mild to Moderate
Depression according to ICD-10.
An Overview.
R. Käufeler, B. Meier, A.
Brattström
Volume 34; Suppl1: S49-S50. 2001.
St. John’s Wort Extract Ze 117
(Hypericum perforatum) Inhibits
Norepinephrine and Serotonin
Uptake into Rat Brain Slices and
Reduces ß-Adrenoceptor
Numbers on Cultured Rat Brain
Cells
U. Kientsch, S. Bürgi, C.
Ruedeberg, S. Probst, U.E.
Honegger
Volume 34; Suppl1: S56-S60. 2001.