Blues in the Brain and Beyond: Molecular Bases of Major Depressive Disorder and Relative Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Treatments
Despite the extensive research conducted in recent decades, the molecular mechanisms underlying major depressive disorder (MDD) and relative evidence-based treatments remain unclear. Various hypotheses have been successively proposed, involving different biological systems. This narrative review aim...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Genes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/11/9/1089 |
| _version_ | 1797553348336943104 |
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| author | Elisabetta Maffioletti Alessandra Minelli Daniela Tardito Massimo Gennarelli |
| author_facet | Elisabetta Maffioletti Alessandra Minelli Daniela Tardito Massimo Gennarelli |
| author_sort | Elisabetta Maffioletti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite the extensive research conducted in recent decades, the molecular mechanisms underlying major depressive disorder (MDD) and relative evidence-based treatments remain unclear. Various hypotheses have been successively proposed, involving different biological systems. This narrative review aims to critically illustrate the main pathogenic hypotheses of MDD, ranging from the historical ones based on the monoaminergic and neurotrophic theories, through the subsequent neurodevelopmental, glutamatergic, GABAergic, inflammatory/immune and endocrine explanations, until the most recent evidence postulating a role for fatty acids and the gut microbiota. Moreover, the molecular effects of established both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches for MDD are also reviewed. Overall, the existing literature indicates that the molecular mechanisms described in the context of these different hypotheses, rather than representing alternative ones to each other, are likely to contribute together, often with reciprocal interactions, to the development of MDD and to the effectiveness of treatments, and points at the need for further research efforts in this field. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:15:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f15493d9924b457796319e24b03d4958 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:15:09Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Genes |
| spelling | doaj.art-f15493d9924b457796319e24b03d49582023-11-20T14:11:37ZengMDPI AGGenes2073-44252020-09-01119108910.3390/genes11091089Blues in the Brain and Beyond: Molecular Bases of Major Depressive Disorder and Relative Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological TreatmentsElisabetta Maffioletti0Alessandra Minelli1Daniela Tardito2Massimo Gennarelli3Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, 25125 Brescia, ItalyGenetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, 25125 Brescia, ItalyPsychiatric Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, 25125 Brescia, ItalyGenetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, 25125 Brescia, ItalyDespite the extensive research conducted in recent decades, the molecular mechanisms underlying major depressive disorder (MDD) and relative evidence-based treatments remain unclear. Various hypotheses have been successively proposed, involving different biological systems. This narrative review aims to critically illustrate the main pathogenic hypotheses of MDD, ranging from the historical ones based on the monoaminergic and neurotrophic theories, through the subsequent neurodevelopmental, glutamatergic, GABAergic, inflammatory/immune and endocrine explanations, until the most recent evidence postulating a role for fatty acids and the gut microbiota. Moreover, the molecular effects of established both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches for MDD are also reviewed. Overall, the existing literature indicates that the molecular mechanisms described in the context of these different hypotheses, rather than representing alternative ones to each other, are likely to contribute together, often with reciprocal interactions, to the development of MDD and to the effectiveness of treatments, and points at the need for further research efforts in this field.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/11/9/1089major depressive disorderantidepressant drugsnon-pharmacological treatmentselectroconvulsive therapymonoaminesserotonin |
| spellingShingle | Elisabetta Maffioletti Alessandra Minelli Daniela Tardito Massimo Gennarelli Blues in the Brain and Beyond: Molecular Bases of Major Depressive Disorder and Relative Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Treatments Genes major depressive disorder antidepressant drugs non-pharmacological treatments electroconvulsive therapy monoamines serotonin |
| title | Blues in the Brain and Beyond: Molecular Bases of Major Depressive Disorder and Relative Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Treatments |
| title_full | Blues in the Brain and Beyond: Molecular Bases of Major Depressive Disorder and Relative Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Treatments |
| title_fullStr | Blues in the Brain and Beyond: Molecular Bases of Major Depressive Disorder and Relative Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Treatments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Blues in the Brain and Beyond: Molecular Bases of Major Depressive Disorder and Relative Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Treatments |
| title_short | Blues in the Brain and Beyond: Molecular Bases of Major Depressive Disorder and Relative Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Treatments |
| title_sort | blues in the brain and beyond molecular bases of major depressive disorder and relative pharmacological and non pharmacological treatments |
| topic | major depressive disorder antidepressant drugs non-pharmacological treatments electroconvulsive therapy monoamines serotonin |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/11/9/1089 |
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