Neurobiology of Depression: State of the Art

Abstract

It has been shown that stress plays a critical role in the origin and development of depression. in this regard, it can be affirmed that it is the result of the interaction between biological and environmental converging factors. among them, it has been demonstrated that the increase of corticotrophin and cortisol release levels, the increase in amygdala activity, the decrease in hippocampal activity, the decrease in serotonergic neurotransmission, can lead to the development of depression. The presence of certain genetic polymorphisms and epigenetic mechanisms represent important factors of biological vulnerability. Thus, studies oriented to identifying and understanding the mechanisms underlying the different biological factors of vulnerability and their potential interactions may lead to the development of new approaches for the treatment and prevention of depression, particularly in those who are the most vulnerable.