The Causes of Depression
Depression series
This is the third article in a series about depression.
Have you ever wondered what causes depression? Theories abound, and one of them is by neuroscientist Alex Korb. He says a depressed person’s brain is stuck. That’s a no-brainer. Any of us who suffer, or have suffered, from depression can attest to that one. However, Korb also says that depression is caused by the “turning of various brain circuits and their interactions with the world and each other.”
In his book, The Upward Spiral, Korb explains that depression “generally involves a problem with how the thinking and feeling circuits in the brain get out of whack.” The circuits of the brain responsible for depression depend on a few brain regions: the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the limbic system. The PFC is the thinking part of the brain, while the limbic system is the feeling part of the brain. With depression, the way the two regions act and communicate with each other is off. The PFC is supposed to help the limbic system.
Maybe as you read this article, you began thinking you can’t get out of depression. Korb says otherwise. Not only is he an expert on the brain as a neuroscientist, but he also suffered from depression and came out of it. There are things we can do to change our brains, including the way the PFC and limbic systems interact. “It’s possible to change the way they act and communicate,” he assures us in his book.
There is research that seems to indicate the hippocampus, which plays a role in emotional processing, is smaller in depressed people. In one fMRI study, researchers found that depressed patients had a reduced hippocampus. Alex Korb said in his book, “A small hippocampus is likely the result of chronic stress, which can damage and kill neurons in the hippocampus.”
A Harvard Health article mentions that antidepressant medications may work because they generate new neurons in the brain. However, there is a need for more research about depression to determine its exact cause, and perhaps by doing so, better medication could arise.
The power of small actions
“Any tiny change can be just the push your brain needs to start spiraling upward.” Alex Korb
Maybe as you read this article, you began thinking you can’t get out of depression. Korb says otherwise. Not only is he an expert on the brain as a neuroscientist, but he also suffered from depression and came out of it. There are things we can do to change our brains, including the way the PFC and limbic systems interact. “It’s possible to change the way they act and communicate,” he assures us in his book.
Neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain. Each neurotransmitter contributes to a different symptom of depression, Korb states in his book. Just boosting the right neurotransmitters won’t take away depression. However, boosting them is part of the solution. Small life changes can change the activity of the neurotransmitter system. He includes decision-making as a change that can boost neurotransmitters.
Perhaps today is the day you decide to get help for depression. Just by making the decision, you can lessen depression a bit. There are links to resources below to help you find a mental health professional.
Resources
The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience To Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time by Alex Korb
The Upward Spiral Workbook by Alex Korb
Mental Health America’s Depression Test: Take the test and see if you might need help with depression.
National Alliance on Mental Illness: Use NAMI as a resource for education on mental illnesses, including depression.
American Psychiatric Association: Use the APA to find a mental health professional near you.
House Clinic: For anyone in the central San Joaquin Valley in California, this is one of the places to seek help.
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