Depression: A Mistaken Disease

Is there a biological basis for depression? Certainly, according to Dr. Mark Rasenick, a professor of physiology, biophysics and psychiatry at the University of Illinois Chicago (an excerpt of his recent article follows). Even then, he contends that we know too little about the disease to even begin to treat it effectively, let alone stem its rising tide in the global population.

I share his sentiment that the medical professionals erroneously see medication the magic bullet to cure depression. Yet one needs to interpret with caution his assertion that depression is a "biological, medical problem" that often requires "long-term treatment." The relationship between biological and emotional aspects of depression remains a chicken-and-egg puzzle: does one feel depressed because of a chemical imbalance in the brain, or does feeling depressed lead to such imbalance?

clipped from www.chicagotribune.com Depression impairs 15 million Americans each year. That's more people than are affected by cancer, AIDS or coronary heart disease. Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression. I study how the brain works on the molecular and cellular level, and I am especially focused on the biology of depression. I can tell you that depression is as real as any other disease. We still don't have a clear understanding of the biological basis of the causes of depression or the best ways to treat it, whether with medication or other methods. those with heart diseases are treated with compassion while those with psychiatric disease are ignored or scorned. Most people -- including far too many doctors -- don't fully understand it. They think you can just snap out of it with positive thinking or a couple of weeks' worth of medicine. It won't happen. Not for those with major depression. It is a biological, medical problem that can be helped only with well-managed and often long-term treatment.