Author Question: In patients with major depression, there is some evidence that the difference in efficacy between ... (Read 20 times)

Mr3Hunna · **on:** Jun 22, 2018

In patients with major depression, there is some evidence that the difference in efficacy between active medications and placebo may increase after ______ of treatment.

a. 8 weeks
b. 6 weeks
c. 4 weeks
d. 2 weeks

Question 2

Briefly describe the neurotrophic theory of mood disorders.

What will be an ideal response?

ttt030911 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

b

Answer to Question 2

The general premise of this model is that exposure to chronic early life stress (e.g., abuse, neglect, parental loss) instigates a cascade of hormonal changes (e.g., release of glucocorticoids stress hormones) that then decrease the levels of chemicals (e.g., brain-derived neurotrophic factor BDNF) necessary for neurogenesis and neuronal growth and development. Eventually, this leads to the neuronal atrophy and cell loss in brain areas critical to mood (e.g., prefrontal cortex, hippocampus), which then result in the symptoms of depression.