CHSU Discovery

Abstract

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder and psychiatric condition that has profound effects on emotional well-being and cognitive function, and is marked by emotional responses of sadness, frustration, guilt, numbness, and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities. It can significantly disrupt daily life, and is a complex illness involving many brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC), limbic system, dorsomedial thalamus, basal ganglia, and brain stem.
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Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to create brain cells and reorganize connections between neuronal synapses. Creation of these connections, or neurogenesis, occurs naturally in response to the process of learning, adapting to new experiences, or following neuronal injury. There are numerous neurochemical markers, such a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and certain neurotrophin makers, among others, which can indicate how well or unwell an individual's ability for neurogeneis is functioning.
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MDD has been linked to disruptions in neuroplasticity in both the PFC and hippocampus, regions for the regulation of mood and cognition, and most strongly linked with the discontinuation of hippocampal neurogenesis. This loss of neurogenesis has been demonstrated to be a significant factor in the pathogenesis of depression, since it contributes to dendritic alterations, glial cell transport inhibition, and overall disruption of top-down processing.
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Alongside pharmacological treatments, non-pharmacological therapies warrant exploration as options to support the neurogenesis of patients diagnosed with depression. This can provide patients with additional options for symptom improvement.
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Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT, also known as Electroshock Therapy), is a treatment modality in which electrical impulses are delivered in a measured, controlled way so that functional connectivity between brain regions can be re-established.
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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive rehabilitation modality that induces magnetic fields to stimulate neuronal cells and other brain factors. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) delivers numerous pulses of magnetic stimulation in efforts of providing therapeutic benefit to patients with various psychiatric illnesses.