PsychRounds: The Psychiatry Podcast Depression and Inflammation: An Introduction
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Feb 26, 2025 Delve into the intriguing link between depression and inflammation. The discussion reveals the evolution of depression's diagnosis and its complex nature. Explore how inflammation affects cognition and treatment responses. Discover the paradox of inflammation in health and its potential benefits. Additionally, learn about the significance of having a purpose in life and its surprising anti-inflammatory effects, which may influence therapeutic approaches.
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Depression Is Multiple Illnesses
- Major depressive disorder likely represents multiple illnesses sharing similar symptoms rather than a single homogeneous disease.
- This diversity in causes may explain why antidepressants have only moderate average effect sizes across patients.
Shared Brain Mechanisms in Depression
- Despite diverse causes, depression shares common brain dysfunctions like overactive default mode network causing negative rumination.
- Treatments like STTMS target these shared neural circuits, showing high remission rates across depression subtypes.
Inflammation Linked to Depression
- Inflammation involves immune response to actual or perceived harm and is linked to a subtype of depression.
- This inflammatory subtype affects about 25-33% of depressed patients, often with elevated CRP and autoimmune diseases.