Neuroinflammatory Hypothesis in Major Depressive Disorder

Abstract

Faced with stress and acute instances, brain cells trigger neuroinflammation and increase inflam-mation response and can cause cell damage, cell death and thereby functional insufficiencies, behavioral disorders and autonomic imbalances. Cytokines that play an important role in inflamma-tory processes affect neurotransmitter metabolism, neuroendocrine functions and synaptic plasticity. It has been proven that inflammatory activity increases in depression. Proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- and #945; along with acute phase reactants increase in depression. If the inflammatory response becomes chronic and cannot be balanced, inflammation and cytokines may cause behavioral symptoms and neuropsychiatric disorders such as major depression and anxiety disorders. In this article, the changes that occur in inflammatory processes in depressive disorder will be summarized; the effects of pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic approaches on these changes will be reviewed. [Psikiyatride Guncel Yaklasimlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry 2014; 6(1.000): 1-9]

Keywords

• Major depressive disorder
• neuroinflammatory hypothesis
• treatment