Research progress on non-biological mechanisms of depression

Abstract

Background: Progress has been achieved in many fields in understanding the biological mechanisms of depression, including genome-wide association analysis, neurotransmitter system function, brain regions and neural networks, inflammatory response, neuroplasticity, neuroimaging, and neuro electrophysiology. These progresses provide a reliable basis for developing the medical and physical therapies for depression. However, the current treatments developed from biological mechanisms can only address less than 60 % of depressive symptoms and have limited efficacy in improving social functioning and reducing recurrence. Studies have explored the non-biological mechanisms of depression in mental fields. These progresses are helpful to develop more interventions that could alleviate depressive symptoms, improve functional impairments, and reduce recurrence, thereby promoting a more comprehensive recovery in depressed patients. However, there is not a systematic and deep review to highlight the non-biological mechanisms of depression. Methods: This study summarizes the recent progress in the non-biological fields of depression by searching publications on human studies in PubMed, PMC, and Google Schooler with exclusion of animal studies. Results: This study reviews the intergenerational transmission characteristics, the relationship between depression and emotional trauma, cognitive deficit, relationship impairment, self-function, sense of the meaning of life, motivation deficit, and psycho-rationality of depression. Conclusions: This study was clarified the non-biological mechanisms and characteristics of depression and provided a theoretical basis for the development of non-drug interventions.

Keywords

• Depression
• Inter-generational transmission
• Emotional trauma
• Cognitive impairment
• Self-functioning
• Motivation