Posted by SLS on November 10, 2009, at 6:25:45
In reply to Re: Peter Breggin » uncouth, posted by Phidippus on November 9, 2009, at 22:56:47
> > How much should I be worried about the Lithium, antidepressants, antipsychotics, etc. that I take causing brain damage etc.?
> Lithium is a neuroprotective agent and can guard against nerve cell degeneration.> SSRIs act much in the same regard, protecting the hippocampus and other brain regions from the atrophying effects of depression.
I think the key word is "atrophy". I believe that the shrinking of brain tissue seen in depression is a true atrophy from disuse rather than a disease process. I could be wrong. I read that in order for an antidepressant to produce neurotrophic or neurogenic effects, it must effectively treat the depression / stress first.
If this is true, then:
AD > remission > neurogenesis.
This is in opposition to the majority view that:
AD > neurogenesis > remission.
> Antipsychotics, on the other hand, can stunt brain growth and cause dopamanergic pathways to atrophy.I never heard that.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:925110
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20091107/msgs/925155.html