A Look at Mood Disorders and Brain Chemistry

A Look at Mood Disorders and Brain ChemistryIn a recent issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, researchers looked at the effects of lifestyle and environment on mood disorders. The results were intriguing and led to the hypothesis that there is a connection between mood disorders and brain chemistry that is similar to how mood disorders are associated with genetics. You see, the results of this study showed that there are differences in the neurotransmitters and chemicals in the brains of people with bipolar disorder and those who suffer from a normal form of depression. These studies point to a possible link between mood disorders and brain chemistry and suggest that if this is the case, then it could be possible to treat the disorder with drugs that alter brain chemistry.This study has been years in the making, and has been at the forefront of the new theory that there are real links between certain changes in moods and the brain. There are some good points to this new theory , but unfortunately there are also some huge negatives as well. Because of this, it is important for us to look at what the new study says and learn from the situation.As far as the link between mood disorders and brain chemistry goes, researchers believe that when a person feels happy and healthy, there is a surge of certain chemicals in the brain. When the levels of these chemicals begin to decline and when a person begins to experience extreme feelings of sadness, this can have a negative effect on brain chemistry. If drugs are prescribed, the most common drug that is used is lithium, which has antidepressant properties.As far as the evidence for the link between mood disorders and brain chemistry, the researchers came to a few different conclusions. They found that people who suffer from bipolar disorder have a much higher risk of having low levels of certain neurotransmitters in their brains, but that the numbers are not as high as they would be for someone suffering from a nor mal form of depression. In addition, they found that this group of patients had a significantly higher rate of seizure disorder.It is important to note that because of the large sample size of people suffering from mood disorders, and because the researchers only looked at bipolar disorders, it was impossible to see if there were links between mood disorders and brain chemistry that were not found in other types of mood disorders. It seems to be true, however, that bipolar and other forms of depression are much more likely to have low levels of certain chemicals in the brain.In conclusion, it seems that a lot of doctors would rather prescribe drugs to treat mood disorders than focus on psychotherapy as a form of mental health care. Many patients do not like to take medications or do not respond well to them, so a more natural approach would seem to be better. It is important for patients to understand that mood disorders are very treatable and do not have to stem from psychological issues.In order to achieve a state of well-being, the patient must feel that there is enough brain chemistry to facilitate their emotional experiences, and that the chemicals present are functioning properly. This means that mood disorders cannot be cured by drugs alone. That said, drugs can be effective in dealing with a particular kind of depression or anxiety, and reducing the symptoms.The use of medications in conjunction with psychotherapy to help a patient overcome mood disorders can be effective, but it is not always necessary. Because of the link between mood disorders and brain chemistry, one should consider alternative treatments that can work for them.