CHEMICAL IMBALANCESKatherine Cho

Moncy Mathews

“You are your synapses”- LeDoux

INTRODUCTION

A chemical imbalance is an irregularity in the cell-to-cell communication that occurs through various neurotransmitters and hormones

There is no/very little controversy regarding the existence of chemical imbalances in severe cases of mental/psychotic disorders

The controversy lies in cases where the disorder is determined to be mild

TO REITERATE HERE LIES THE CONTROVERSY…

There has yet to be a specific study which states this specific neurotransmitter causes this specific disorder, however it is not improbable to identify the potential causal relationship between chemical imbalances and neural disorders.

Fact: A certain amount of neurotransmitters are required to achieve optimum nerve conduction, therefore if this minimal/required amount is lacking, (a chemical imbalance) the neuron will not function efficiently. -Supported by Medical Model. From Neurobiology: Molecules, Cells, and Systems.

WHAT DOES THE DSM HAVE TO SAY?

“The pathophysiology of a Major Depressive Episode may involve a dysregulation of a number of neurotransmitter systems, including the serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine, and gamma-aminobuytric systems. There is also evidence of alteration of several neuropeptides, including corticotropin-releasing hormone…None of these changes are present in all individuals in a Major Depressive Episode, however, nor is any particular disturbance specific to depression” (DSM-IV-TR)1

FIGURE 1.22

Nature Nurture

 

 Synapses

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Mind and Behavior(the self)

WHY BOTHER WITH THE BRAIN?

Study of the diseased brain has furthered our understanding of the normal brain.

Historically studying the brain involved certain injury/death to the patient. Currently there are various brain scanning techniques used to study the brain without cutting through a single layer of tissue.

Scanning methods of measuring include structural vs. functional aspects of the brain.

STRUCTURAL MEASUREMENTS CAT/CT scan3:

A computerized axial tomography scan is an x-ray procedure that combines multiple x-ray images to generate cross-sectional views and, if needed, three-dimensional images of the internal organs and structures of the body.

MRI4: A radiology technique designed to image internal

structures of the body using magnetism, radio waves to produce the images of body structures. In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the scanner is a tube surrounded by a giant circular magnet.

FUNCTIONAL MEASUREMENTS Positron emission tomography (PET):

A highly specialized imaging technique that uses short-lived radioactive substances to produce three-dimensional colored images of those substances functioning within the body. PET studies metabolic activity or body function. PET has been used primarily in cardiology, neurology, and oncology.

fMRI: The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to learn

which regions of the brain are active in a specific function, as in speech. Abbreviated as fMRI.

NEUROTRANSMITTERS

Chemicals which relay, amplify, and modulate signals between neurons and other cells Norepinephrine Dopamine Seratonin GABA

NOREPINEPHRINE

Neurotransmitter in the catecholamine family Mediates communication in the sympathetic

nervous system Stress hormone: released when body senses

stressful conditions; also known as the “fight or flight” response

Affects attention and responding actions

DOPAMINE

Neurotransmitter in the catecholamine family Neurohormone Involved in the regulation of:

secretion of some hormones mood and emotional stability pain processing

SERATONIN

Neurotransmitter Involved in the regulation of:

Moods (particularly anger and aggression) Body temperature Sleep Appetite Metabolism

GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID

Neurotransmitter also known GABA Regulates neuronal excitability 1950: discovered to be an integral part of

mammalian central nervous system

NORMAL VS. AFFECTED BRAIN

Frontal Lobe:-considerable less chemical activity in the frontal lobes of affected individuals-indicates less communication between cells upon stimulation

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ARE WE CAPABLE OF MEASURING THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION SIMULTANEOUSLY?

Currently: NoThis creates another issue:Currently studies are based on the function of neurons as clusters or scientifically known as circuits/neural pathways due to the lack of multifaceted simultaneous structure and function testing capabilities.

INFLUENCE OF GENETICS

Current studies support that chemical imbalances have a genetic component

Npas4 gene6

Discovered in 2008 by neuroscientists at the Children’s Hospital of Boston

Research has been opened to doctors at Harvard and MIT “Master switch” for synapses

Synapses are the site for signal exchanges between cells/neurons Represses or activates genes Linked to the function of more than 200 genes that calm down over

stimulated genes if over stimulated genes are not controlled, it can lead to epilepsy, autism,

or schizophrenia With the discovery of this gene, scientists are optimistic in finding a

possible cure for the epilepsy, autism and schizophrenia

RESEARCH MAGAZINE7

VOLUME XXIII NUMBER 1 SPRING 2008

“Anatomical causes of epilepsy are often easily identified but are responsible for less than half of all cases [150,000 Canadians]– leaving nearly 60 per cent of epilepsy patients with more questions than answers. The majority of cases are likely the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain, causing it to function incorrectly, says Dobson. [Prof. Howard Dobson, Department of Clinical Studies] But what causes the imbalance is unknown. Currently, researchers think the chemical imbalance can be caused by any number of factors, including stress, improper nutrition, illness and depression. They suspect it results in the nerve fibers – the information highways of the brain – functioning improperly, leaving the dog or human more susceptible to having a seizure.”

WE KNOW WHAT THE RESEARCH SAYS, LET’S LOOK AT A PRACTICAL EXAMPLE

But before that…http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/matthews/actionp.html

Although weight, number of drinks, type of drink, and gender may all vary between two individuals, the fact remains the same, even consuming one

drink affects your BAC7. The same can be attributed to chemical imbalances.

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OPTIMALITY AND ROBUSTNESS OF A BIOPHYSICAL DECISION-MAKING MODEL UNDER NOREPINEPHRINE MODULATION9

PHILIP ECKHOFF,1 K. F. WONG-LIN,1,2 AND PHILIP HOLMES1,2,3 1PROGRAM IN APPLIED AND COMPUTATIONAL MATHEMATICS, 2CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF BRAIN, MIND, AND BEHAVIOR, AND 3DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND AEROSPACE ENGINEERING, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 08544

“NE [Norepinephrine]released by efferent LC fibers (locus ceruleus- a nucleus in the brainstem) changes cellular excitability and synaptic efficacy (Berridge and Waterhouse, 2003) and can alter performance in behavioral tasks (Berridge and Waterhouse, 2003; Aston-Jones and Cohen, 2005; Bouret and Sara, 2005). Dysregulation of NE is also implicated in cognitive disorders (Arnsten, 2007).”

The Journal of Neuroscience, April 1, 2009, 29(13):4301-4311; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5024-08.2009

TREATMENT

Varies across conditions and severity of disorder

Identify neurotransmitter involved Therapy Lifestyle changes

MEDICATION

“Given that many forms of psychopathology has been associated with various imbalances in neurotransmitter substances…it is not surprising that many of the medications used to treat various disorders have the synapse as their site of action”

–Neurotransmission and Abnormal Behavior (2.1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngi4Hyzp11k

ONE LAST VIDEO

http://stream1.jay.net/lundbeck/sero5.wmv

Chemical Imbalances Exist and Are veryReal

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SUMMARY

Medical community acknowledges that chemical imbalances exist and play a role in mental/psychotic disorders; the field is still growing as doctors and scientists continue to investigate the extent to which chemical imbalances are involved

Chemical Imbalances must exist to account for the non-anatomical causes of neural disorders, although the effects maybe mild and symptoms may not express themselves severely, as in anatomical cases. Treating and correcting chemical imbalances early on would be a preventive step to avoid the full onset of symptoms.

REFERENCES

1. http://chemicalimbalance.org/?p=21

2. Joseph LeDoux. 2002, Synaptic Self. How Our brains become who we are.

3. http://www.medicinenet.com/cat_scan/article.htm

4. http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=11609

5. http://www.pharmacology2000.com/Central/psychotics/Antipsy_obj1.htm (PET Scan)

6. http://www.blisstree.com/autismvox/a-master-switch-for-synapses-npas4/ (Npas4)

7. http://www.uoguelph.ca/research/publications/Assets/PDF/ResearchMagazine/cfi.pdf

8. http://www.ou.edu/oupd/bac.htm

9. The Journal of Neuroscience, April 1, 2009, 29(13):4301-4311; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5024-08.2009

10. http://www.blisstree.com/healthbolt/files/2007/03/synapse.jpg