testosterone bipolar
Copyright (c) 2007 Stephen Lau
Hormones are the biochemical basis of depression. Estrogen, a female hormone produced in the ovaries, plays a key role in the brain, increasing the amount of mood-regulating neurotransmiiters, whose malfunction often triggers depression in an individual. Neurotransmission is the process by which brain chemicals impulses are transmitted from one brain cell (neuron) to another. Scientists have identified norepinephrine, serotonin and acetylcholine as some of the chemicals in the brain prerequisite for brain health. Mood disorder, including depression and bipolar disorder (also known as bipolar depression), the result of an imbalance or deficiency of the transmitters to make the connection between the right brain cells. Estrogen increases the ability of neurons to the optimal connection or communication within the brain.
Moreover, estrogen plays a key role in proper blood flow to different parts of the brain, contributing decisively to the optimization of emotion, memory and cognitive functions.
Researchers have conducted several studies that have noted the effects of estrogen in the brain with regard to the role memory and postmenopausal women.
Before the actual onset of menopause, estrogen levels in women decreased significantly up to 50 to 75 percent.
This may explain why women not only experience depression twice as often as men, but are also twice as likely to be hospitalized in their lives. This discrepancy has little to do with the fact that women seek psychiatric help more often than men, or the fact that women are more stressed than men.
If hormones have much to do with depression, depressive episodes are hormonal women.
According studies, approximately 35 percent of women have mild premenstrual physical symptoms and depression, due to the rapid decrease in estrogen level.
After pregnancy, women also experience a drastic decrease of estrogen levels. Consequently, 50 to 70 percent of women experience postpartum depression in the first 10 days after birth, and approximately 10 percent may suffer a major depression. According to one study, more than 60 percent with postpartum depression may develop depression in life.
During perimenopause and menopause, the dramatic decrease in the level of women Estrogen makes them more vulnerable to extreme mood swings. Many studies show the close relationship between estrogen and mood swings.
Fluctuations hormone in women and men on their own aberrations in their thinking, behavior, mood, and sexuality, expressed in symptoms of depression. Note that the decrease in testosterone (male hormone) may also result in male aggressive behavior
The crucial question is: Given into account their close relationship with depression, estrogen is an antidepressant?
The NIH (National Institutes of Health) study on the role of estrogen as an antidepressant indicated that patients receiving high-dose estrogen experienced significant improvement in their depression symptoms. In addition, improvement continued beyond the study period. Scientists believe that estrogen and other hormones may benefit patients with refractory depression treatment. The rationale is based on the assumption that antidepressants can only boost the "level" of neurotransmitters, but without improving the "quality" transmitters, and therefore can not be effective in treating some depression, especially those with low levels of estrogen and testosterone.
The Studies have also indicated that patients who suffer from anxiety, other mood related disorders attributed to peri-and postmenopausal depression. Symptoms anxiety, such as dry mouth, waking in the middle of the night, shortness of breath, excessive sweating, and nausea can be relieved by estrogen treatment.
Other hormones that may wreak havoc with depression are testosterone and thyroid hormone. Testosterone, which is responsible for energy and sexual function in women, and has an antidepressant effect in the brain. Therefore, a decrease of testosterone can trigger depressive episodes. Impaired thyroid hormone paranoid delusions may occur in patients with bipolar depression.
Of course, mental illness is a complex disease involving many other factors only hormones. The disorder may be due to genetic factors make one susceptible to depression, the sick or rebellious lifestyle, poor nutrition, environmental toxins, and distorted thinking, among others. It is important to identify the cause or causes, and designing an appropriate treatment for this debilitating condition affecting more than 15 U.S. adults.
About the Author:
Stephen Lau is a researcher, writing synopses of medical research for scientists. His publications include “NO MIRACLE CURES” a book on healing and wellness. He has also created several websites, including
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Hormones and your Depression
How To Shoot Up…T that is
