Clinical psychologist George Slavich of the University of California in Los Angeles thinks that depression may be part of the body's response to inflammation, as much as it is a result of pathological thinking. The features of depression are analogous to the behaviour of sick people, and inflammatory cytokines have been shown to flood the body during depressive episodes. There are also higher rates of depression among people with inflammatory diseases or who are taking drugs that boost inflammatory response.
The possible causes of this inflammation are legion: infection, obesity, sugar, and probably many not yet identified. The most pernicious may be stress. These ubiquitous triggers, many operating together in vicious circles, have made depression endemic in our society. Lacking coherent meaning, articulated optimism, proud community or the kind of unity of purpose that builds pyramids and puts flags on moons, stress is relieved with behaviour that promotes further inflammation. The psychological component still plays a critical role, but does so in concert with biological conditions.
The chemical imbalance theory of mental illness has been generally accepted, but never actually proven. There is no physical test for most mental disorders. The role of inflammation, on the other hand, has been neglected in the study of many diseases. The Guardian suggests that anti-inflammatory medication may find a place in the treatment of depression, but for some it may be as simple as adding turmeric to the diet and cutting out the candy. This could be a shorter path to mental health than saving the world and solving the problem of evil.
No comments:
Post a Comment