Posted by SLS on May 25, 2001, at 16:39:40
In reply to Re: spot on » SLS, posted by JahL on May 25, 2001, at 13:28:17
> Kind of what I was trying to say, only more considered, more grounded in fact & certainly less 'ranty'. I omitted to say that I do accept the concept of heterogeneity. However, & I'm guessing here, most of the babble participants fall more on the 'biological' side of the spectrum & so I can't see the purpose of Cam's remarks other than to provoke.
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> Reading Cam's remarks was kinda like finding out yr wife of 10 yrs has been cheating on you all this time. Altruistic chap, good psychopharmacologist, & his presence used to define this board, but his take on the origins & cure for depression....well, sad to say, the guy loses pretty much all credibility in my eyes. I realise that Cam's something of a sacred cow rnd here so I'll butt out. J.
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> > > Clearly, there are biological differences here between the healthy versus the pathological brain. These changes cannot be not reversed, despite a successful resolution of psychological issues, had there been any before the onset of illness.
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> Preee-cisely.
Just to be even more preee-cise :-), I was speaking specifically about certain changes in brain morphology seen in schizophrenia. Although enlarged ventricles may not be contributory to the expression of the illness, I use it as an example of a physiological difference that exists and is associated with it. There are other differences that are almost certainly contributory. This would include the architecture of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the increases in neural density seen in certain regions. I think Cam has a better handle on the latter as it is my guess that it involves neuronal pruning.Perhaps one day, with the help of things like the human genome project, gene therapy, the use of stem-cells, and the strategic application of neurotrophins (nerve growth factors), we will be able to restructure those regions of the brain necessary to produce healthy mental function. I don't see why not.
Schizophrenia is not unique among the mental illnesses with respect to changes in the morphology of certain brain structures. They can be observed and measured in both major depression and bipolar disorder. The one that is most publicized is the atrophy (shrinkage) of the hippocampus, a structure involved in memory and mood, seen in major depression. This seems to be reversible. The longer an individual is stabilized in a state of remission, the greater the return to its original volume grows the hippocampus. I recall coming across other examples of the restoration of neural structures and function, but they escape me.
We were born too early to be insured mental health and too late not to have hope to. I don't know how to feel about that.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:63214
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010522/msgs/64248.html