more of depression

[Guest guest]

Francesca has it right. Depression is a physical illness. That's why

antidepressants work. Often depression is caused by deficiencies of

the neurotransmitter, serotonin, in certain parts of the brain.

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (e.g., prozac, effexor, paxil, zoloft,

etc.) interfere with the enzyme system that takes up or clears

serotonin from synapses, thus increasing the overall concentration of

serotonin. There is an abundance of experimental evidence, from in

vitro to clinical, behind our understanding of depression. There are

good data from positron emission tomography (PET) scan studies

comparing serotonin distribution and concentration in the brains of

depressed people with normal controls. When depressed people are

treated, their brains become more like those of the control subjects

when PET scanned.

The depression of bipolar disorder is different and differently

treated, but nonetheless debilitating.

Depression is not something that one can " will " away. Depression and

other so-called mental illnesses have historically suffered from a

social stigma that if only the depressed person would exert control

and strength of character every thing would be fine. Diabetes is

treated with insulin because the pancreas cannot produce enough

insulin. Depression is treated by antidepressants because the brains

of depressed people cannot produce enough serotonin (and other

neurochemicals).

This may be a simplistic description of depression, but it is

basically accurate. It is a great disservice to compare depression to

pedophilia. The first is a treatable disorder, while the second is an

evil act of choice.

Regarding obesity, it is as yet not well understood. I'm sure that

there are genetic and physiologic components, but also, clearly,

psychological, social, economic and environmental factors as well. It

isn't for us (who, by practicing CRON, represent an extreme of

self-control) to make moral or other j