Depression is a broad condition that is associated with failures in many parts of the nervous system, such as neurotransmitters. Per Hoffmann et al. (2017), when the disorder is present, serotonin levels in the organism tend to be low compared to those of others such as norepinephrine and dopamine. Its regulatory function is thus compromised, letting other neurotransmitters have broader effects and become dysregulated. As a result, the likelihood of a mood disorder as a result of collapse following multiple failures increases. Depression can be both the cause and the effect of this imbalance.
The functions of synapses are also harmed during depression through the influence of external factors that interact with them closely. Gomes et al. (2016) note that a hypofunction of astrocytes leads to increased excitability and noise alongside several other factors, ultimately leading to aberrant plasticity. Signal encoding and transfer are then hampered, leading to incorrect and exaggerated information processing. As a result of this emotional instability, the person’s depression deepens and possibly self-perpetuates if no interventions are applied. However, this phenomenon also has another side effect that involves neurons and has the potential to incur severe damage.
The constant emergence of unregulated and erroneous signals can have a negative effect on the health of neurons. With enough pressure, some may succumb to the harm and stop functioning entirely. As a result, Gomes et al. (2016) highlight how advanced stages of depressive disorders are often associated with neuronal loss. This process can lead to harm that extends beyond depression and past recovery. Therefore, it is essential that patients with depression seek out treatment and receive before their condition intensifies to an excessive degree.
References
Gomes, C. A., Vaz, S. H., Sousa, N., & Pinto, L. (Eds.). (2016). Glial plasticity in depression. Frontiers Media SA.
Hofmann, S. G., Barlow, D. H., & Durand, V. M. (2017). Essentials of abnormal psychology (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.