Posted by BarbaraCat on January 9, 2002, at 22:18:03
In reply to A bug?, posted by manowar on January 9, 2002, at 21:49:00
> > I know we're an imperfect species, we've had miserable childhoods for the most part, our aymgdalas are bonked out and there are many reasons for not feeling great, but have you all noticed how many of us suffer from depression -- 'chemical imbalances'? Any ideas why this might be? I've been exploring and researching everything from micoplasma infection (who knows, those chemtrails we've been spotting overhead are spraying something!) to substance P overload in the CS fluid to every thing I can get my hands on. I also have fibromyalgia along with severe depression and when I get depressed it's a TOTAL body thing. I hurt all over, every cell aches, I'm tired and I'm in deep despair. Yes, I take meds and it helps sometimes and sometimes not. But it makes me wonder -- what's going on? Why are we so sick? Any takers on this question of the ages?
> ************************************************
>
> Good thread,
>
> First of all, the 'chemical imbalance' theory of depression is nonsense in my opinion. A 'chemical imbalance' may happen when the brain is not functioning the way it should, so it may be the EFFECT of improper brain functioning. The improper brain functioning could be due to psychological and/or physiological reasons.
>
> And yes--in most cases depression can be treated by using meds that alter the improper functioning (THE CAUSE), not the 'chemical imbalance’ (THE EFFECT).
>
> But to answer you're question, I have a theory. Viruses may cause many depressions.
>
> Whatever happened to the 'Borna Virus' theory of depression? It was a major news story a couple years ago- haven't heard it mentioned since. Why is that?
>
> We're not the only species to suffer from depression. I think that when a virus causes Horses to commit suicide by jumping off cliffs, we may be on to something.
>
> Here's a story from 1998 from CNN-
>
> August 31, 1998
> Web posted at: 8:29 p.m. EDT (0029 GMT)
> (CNN) -- New research from Germany indicates some cases of serious depression may be caused by a virus.
>
> "We think that there is ... a lot of evidence that Borna virus has clinical significance for this type of disease," said Dr. Liv Bode of the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin.
>
> In the United States, at least 17 million people have some form of clinical depression -- not just a passing case of the blues, but a disabling and often long-term disease.
>
> Scientists are still unraveling the causes of the disease: genetics, stress and possibly a virus.
>
> The virus was first identified in the late 1800s among horses near the town of Borna, Germany. The horses stopped eating, walked in circles and got sick. Some even killed themselves.
>
> Autopsies led scientists to the virus in the region of the horses' brains that controls emotions. Researchers in Berlin have found a similar strain in humans.
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> "I think it is supporting our hypothesis that this virus, this particular agent, has really something to do with this type of disorder," Bode said.
>
> The anti-viral drug amantadine, used to treat Parkinson's disease, has been found to relieve some cases of depression. A trial is now under way.
>
> "I think I'm one of the most skeptical people around ... but I have to face the fact that for about a year now, we've been treating patients and we've been seeing responses to amantadine," said Dr. Ron Ferszt of the Free University of Berlin.
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> German patient Rosemarie Wenzlaff, who suffered from depression for 10 years, says the medication changed her life.
>
> "I didn't take care of myself when I was depressed; I couldn't eat," she said. "Now I'm thinking of cooking marmalade. I listen to music now. I watch TV. It's a totally different life."
>
> Scientists in the United States say these early findings are interesting, but not conclusive. Results are expected later this year from clinical trials in Berlin that might demonstrate a link between the Borna virus and depression.
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>
> Below is MAJOR speculation on my part. Either a brainstorm or a brain fart, but so what--I'm babbling-right?
>
> I think a viral infection ATTACKING the brain, and DESTROYING cells and synapsis causing functional problems leading to ‘chemical imbalances’ is as just a viable theory as any.
>
> -- Of course I could and probably am wrong:)
>
> I had childhood encephalitis. I’m SURE that the virus did irreversible damage to my brain and how it functions, as I’m sure everyone reading my posts can attest to:)
>
> Take care,
>
> TimYes, I was hoping someone would mention the Borna virus because that is a tantalizing piece of the puzzle. I've had some interesting experiences while on the antiviral med acyclovir for periodic herpes outbreaks. I've found that a five day course can stop a depression cold if I'm in the midst of one, or just make me feel neurologically better in general. I always wondered if that was placebo talking, or if there was some neuro anti-viral activity. Another implicating culprit has been the mycoplasma bacteria. There's all kinds of info out on the internet ranging from serious research studies to scary conspiracy theories on how the different forms can seriously compromise physical and mental health. I've had the mycoplasma pneumonea strain three times - one case chronically lasting for 2 years before it was diagnosed and treated with antibiotics. And what about all the virus theories for chronic fatique (myalgic encelphalitis) where lesions do show up on brain imaging and 'malingering' is no longer the knee-jerk diagnosis.
It seems that how we deal with organic or metabolic dysfunctions in our current medical paradigm is to search out the down-current results and use band-aids after it's broken, rather than seek the source of the break (malfunctioning pituitary in the HPA axis? Excess cortisol effectively frying receptor sites? Secondary messenger systems gone awry? Poor gene transcription causing various hormonal receptor resistance?) Or maybe just a nasty bug?
poster:BarbaraCat
thread:88953
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020103/msgs/89516.html