What Happens in the Brain to Cause Depression?
The exact cause of depression is unknown, although SSRIs, drugs targeting the neurotransmitter serotonin, have long been prescribed for it. Now the spotlight is turning to other aspects of brain chemistry. In this episode, the neuropharmacologist John Krystal of the Yale School of Medicine shares findings that are revolutionizing depression treatment.
The Joy of Why · Steven Strogatz, Janna Levin and Quanta Magazine
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Show Notes
For decades, the best drug therapies for treating depression, like SSRIs, have been based on the idea that depressed brains don’t have enough of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Yet for almost as long, it’s been clear that simplistic theory is wrong. Recent research into the true causes of depression is finding clues in other neurotransmitters and the realization that the brain is much more adaptable than scientists once imagined. Treatments for depression are being reinvented by drugs like ketamine that can help regrow synapses, which can in turn restore the right brain chemistry and improve whole body health.
In this episode, John Krystal, a neuropharmacologist at the Yale School of Medicine, tells Steve Strogatz about the new findings in mental health research that are revolutionizing psychiatric medication.