Neuropsihologija depresije

Abstract

Depression, although nowadays frequently mentioned in the media, remains a largely undetected and untreated disorder. There are multiple subtypes of depressive disorders, and this paper aims to describe various depressive disorders according to the DSM-5 manual, and to depict the neural foundation of depression as well as the neurological relationship between depression and dementia. The most common type of depressive disorder is major depressive disorder, which includes symptoms such as depressive mood, weight loss, feeling of uselessness and lack of interest in and motivation for activities. Other depressive disorders, such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder, are less common in prevalence (number of cases), but have more distinct causes and a greater efficacy of treatment. Some of the frequent causes of depression are changes in neurotransmitters, especially reduced norepinephrine and serotonin levels, as well as psychological and social factors such as great losses or life changes. A contemporary model of depression incorporates brain activation, especially lower activation of left frontal area, lower and higher activation of right frontal area and lower activation of right posterior area. The relationship between depression and dementia is apparent in neurological factors, where it has been shown that people with depressive disorders have an increased risk of dementia in older age. To conclude, depression is a complex term which demands a more detailed depiction and research in order to differ its subtypes and find effective treatment.