Clues to Depression Sought in Brain's Wiring : NPR

Imaging, Genetic Detective Work Suggest Why Disease Strikes

August 24, 2004

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Listen to the change in pace in a brain cell firing after a drug is administered. The beeps indicate the drug is being applied; it increases the firing of the cell.

Listen to changes in the firing of a brain cell as it is electrically manipulated.

Brain scans comparing how talk therapy works on the brain vs. drug therapy.

Dr. Helen Mayberg, Emory University

Dr. Helen Mayberg's research shows that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) slows down the "thinking" part of the brain, marked in blue, while the SSRI antidepressant Paroxetine worked to increase activity, shown in red, at the back of the brain.

Brain scans comparing the effects of talk therapy vs. drug therapy.

Dr. Mayberg, Emory University

Dr. Mayberg's research shows that cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) affects the front part of the brain, the thinking part (left, blue), while the SSRI anti-depressant Paroxetine works on a more primitive region at the back of the brain (right, red).

Genetic Predisposition

Researchers found that if individuals had a certain form of a gene, they were more likely to respond to stressful events with depression.

A chart of their findings.

Dr. Sheline, Washington University

Dr. Yvette Sheline found that depressed patients had smaller hippocampi (structure marked by boxes) than nondepressed people. In addition, her research shows that antidepressants protect the hippocampus from shrinking.

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August 24, 2004

Major depression afflicts one out of 10 adults, resulting in profound and disturbing changes in mood, energy, sleep, appetite and interests. Most patients, while in the grips of depression, are unable to function in their work or family life, and suicide is an ever-present risk.

While treating depression with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, has been around since the late 1980s, new brain imaging technologies and genetic detective work are rapidly revealing what can cause depression and how best to treat it. NPR's Michelle Trudeau reports.