Posted by linkadge on March 2, 2010, at 18:54:12
In reply to How does sleep deprivation alleviate depression?, posted by Walfredo on March 2, 2010, at 16:28:01
Sleep deprivation causes all sorts of wierd and wonderful biochemical alterations. Serotonin, dopamine, acetycholine, neuropeptides and hormones...you name it.
It tends to decrease overactive limbic neurotransmission, but increase overall cortical neurotransmission. Lack of sleep can easily cause a bipolar to switch from depression to mania.
The theraputic effects are somewhat temporary. Go to sleep and the body snatchers will get you. Some have tried (with some sucess) to combine theraputic sleep deprivation with certain agents to prolong the effect.
Sleep deprivation + pindolol + lithium has been well studied. The rational is that it reduces the feedback inhibition on serotonergic functioning.
Its a mystery, but very interesting one. Horrible nasty miserable depression can resolve in one evening. Makes you wonder what all the wait with AD's is for - or if its even necessary.
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:938371
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100216/msgs/938393.html