The different brain centres involved in major depression and the derived pharmcological options

Introduction: In major depression, hypoactivity of monoamines, namely of serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine and hyperactivity of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate in the midbrain and the hippocampus can be found. Besides, increased concentrations of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRH) in the hypothalamus with an enhanced dexamethasone/CRH test can be found in depressive patients. Material/Methods: The neuronal networks can be described as follows: In the hippocampus, dopaminergic neurons transmit a weak activating impulse via D2 receptors to glutaminergic neurons which strongly inhibit serotonergi…