Most likely, you or someone you know has experienced depression at one time. In some cases, you or the person you know may have experienced several severe episodes lasting for a long period of time. But what is depression, really? You may know that it’s more than just being sad, but did you know that it actually shrinks your brain? Or that it is much more complex than a mood disorder or simple chemical imbalance? Researchers still do not understand all the causes and effects of depression, or how to treat it, but there is a lot they do know. Depression is the most common mental illness in the United States, with around 17% of the population experiencing a depressive episode at some point in their life. The long term and more drastic form of depression, Major …show more content…
There is some evidence that with treatment of antidepressants brain atrophy (shrinkage) can be reversed to some extent, but the research is still in early stages. Some have found little to no improvement, and some have found complete reversal of the shrinkage, so right now, we still don’t know for sure. Obviously, though, for many people antidepressants can have positive effects. So what are antidepressants, and how do they work? One in 10 Americans takes an antidepressant. They are the most commonly prescribed drug behind only antibiotics. Scientists have developed antidepressants that that work to control how neurotransmitters affect the brain. Because depression is more complex than just abnormal neurotransmitter activity, sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t. There are multiple types of antidepressants, but the better known ones are called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). These are known more commonly by their brand names such as Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil, and Zoloft. SSRIs have become the most commonly prescribed antidepressant because they’re generally safer, and have fewer side