'Chemical Imbalance and Depression\r'

'Chemical mental unsoundness and Depression Melissa Creamer PSYC 3002- exploitation a Psychology Perspective image Draft †Persuasive Paper genus G allinago University [email protected] edu October 2012 Introduction According to some(prenominal) Psychologists, chemic unbalance rout out pop off to feeling and other mental illnesses. It is in truth unclear that depression is champion of the correspondingly symptoms of a chemical imbalance. However, chemical imbalance doesn’t lead to e real physical body of depression seen in the lives of many people. Admin,2012) close to five percent of the United States macrocosm experiences a depressive episode that requires psychopharmacological handling; in any one year, 10 to twelve million Americans argon alter by depression, with the fix twice as common in females than in males. (Ho, 2002) We all have chemical signals that ar called neurotransmitters and they stimulate in a variety of forms like serotonin, do pamine, and norepinephrine. All three of these neurotransmitters play a very important office in maintaining normal mood, motivation and concentration.What is serotonin? serotonin acts as a neurotransmitter, a typesetters case of chemical that helps relay signals from one knowledge domain of the ace to another. (Bouchez, 2007) In depressed wags, the serotonin signal had been somehow weakened because of a chemical imbalance in the neurotransmitters. (Mukherjee, 2012) economic crisis serotonin directs atomic number 18 often attributed to worry, depression, dismay attacks, insomnia, obesity, eating disorders, migraines, and alcohol abuse. (Integrative Psychiatry, 2012)Treatment for increasing levels of serotonin in the sensation ar medical specialty like Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil.These medicinal drugs are know to forge by making more serotonin in the brain. (Carver, 2002) If we have too much(prenominal)(prenominal) Serotonin you will have this spot of bliss and it ca n also modernize a life threatening condition known as Serotonin Syndrome. To escort there have been no put down or documented studies proving that the brain levels of Serotonin or any neurotransmitter are in short supply when depression or any mental illness develops. (Bouchez, 2007) Serotonin can be measured in the blood but they are not sure that blood levels effect the brain’s level of Serotonin.The next neurotransmitter that is office staff of the brain is dopamine. What is Dopamine? Dopamine is in the area of the brain that is considered to be the neurotransmitter of focusing and attention. Dopamine relays impulses across the microscopic spaces, called synapses, which subsist between adjacent nerves, thus al downcasting the annexe of messages from one nerve to the next. (Christensen, 2011) Low levels of Dopamine make concentration and focus very difficult, this is associated with Attention- Deficit- Hyperactivity- Disorder. Carver, 2002) If patients are bring to have small(a) levels of Dopamine, you will be prescribed medicine that actually slows down the hyperactive by increasing Dopamine boasting the level into normal range allowing them to focus and grant attention. Researchers say that if a patient is found to have prolonged exposure to Dopamine, patients are more apt to abuse drugs. almost addictive drugs, such as cocain and amphetamines, directly or indirectly turn up dopamine levels, and the chemical plays a major role in drug-induced elevateds. WebMD, 2005) The next neurotransmitter that is element of the brain is Norepinphrine. What is Norepinphrine? noradrenaline is the neurotransmitter often associated with the flight or fight response to stress. Norepinephrine also functions hormones in the body. Low levels of Norepinephrine are associated with a loss of alertness, suffering memory, and depression. (Carver, 2002) It has been found that low levels of norepinephrine are in ADHD and depression patients. If the lev els are two high patients may live fatigue, have muscle cramps and a awareness of being on edge.Almost all anxiety disorders involve norepinephrine elevations. (Carver, 2002) Psychiatrists would treat low levels of norepinephrine with newer antidepressants like Effexor and Serzone. Treatment of high levels of norepinephrine the psychologist would prescribe GABA, also known as Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid. Summary and Conclusion As I stated in my flip it is very clear that depression is one of the possible symptoms of chemical imbalance. However, chemical imbalance doesn’t lead to every kind-hearted of depression seen in the lives of many people. Admin, 2012) not all medication has the same dosage. in that respect are many different types of medication that you can have prescribed if your brain is low or has high neurotransmitters such as Serotonin, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine. If you feel like you are depressed go and see a Psychologist, so the correct medication can be pres cribed to you. References Admin (2012). Is depression caused by chemical imbalance in the brain? Retrieved from http://smartsdepression. com/2012/04/27/is-depression-caused-by-chemical-imbalance-in-the-brain. Bouchez, Colette, (2007).Serotonin: 9 Questions and Answers. Article is a WebMD feature. Retrieved from http://www. webmd. com/depression/features/serotonin. Carver, Joseph MD, (2002). The â€Å"Chemical Imbalance” in mental health problems. Retrieved from http://www. drjoecarver. com/clients/49533/file/chemical%20imbalance. html. Christensen, Stephen, (2011). Depression treatment with dopamine. Retrieved from http://www. livestrong. com/article/362623-depression-treatment-with-dopamine/. Ho, Kathryn, (2002). Serotonin ; Depression. Retrieved from http://serendip. brynmawr. du/bb/neuro/neuro99/web3/ho. html Integrative psychiatry, (2012). Serotonin. Retrieved from http://integrativepsychiatry. net/serotonin. html. Mukherjee, Siddhartha, (2012). Post-Prozac Nation. The erudition and History of Treating Depression. Retrieved from http://www. nytimes. com/2012/04/22/magazine/the-science-and-history-of-treating-depression. hmtl. WebMD, (2005). Dopamine may play new role in depression. Article is from WebMD news archive. Retrieved from http://www. webmd/depression/news/20050728/dopamine-may-play-new-role-in-depression. .\r\n'