Depression 'hijacks' brain responses

Depression' hijacks' brain repsonses that fight physical illness

Latest research from the Brighton and Sussex Medical School and University College London suggests depression can ‘hijack’ the same brain responses used to fight physical illness.

Dr Neil Harrison, Clinical Research Fellow in Neuropsychiatry and Neuroimaging at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School, has been exploring brain reactions during illness and suggests that brain circuits designed to help us adapt our behaviour to best fight off an illness may be 'hijacked' during clinical depression.

“This brain region shows strong connections to a number of other brain areas implicated in regulating reward, emotion and social interaction" said Dr Harrison.

Previous research in this area has noted the similarity between symptoms of depression and our behaviour when ill. When sick, we often feel irritable or low in mood, and tend to be easily tired, lacking in appetite and energy or motivation to do things that we would normally enjoy. This is our immune system communicating with the brain, to preserve energy to beat the illness, or keep us less active to avoid spreading the illness to others.

However, symptoms of clinical depression are also similar to those of physical illness, leading to the idea that the same area of the brain is being affected. While this is temporary during physical illness, this area of the brain is ‘hijacked’ long-term by clinical depression.

This opens up possibilities that anti-inflammatory drugs used to conquer physical illness may also have a role to play in overcoming clinical depression. "Recently a few studies have suggested a beneficial role for anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of depression," said Dr Harrison, "our study suggests a potential reason for why this approach may be effective."

More details can be found at

http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/2009/News/WTX056412.htm

and at

http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/bps/home