A couple of interesting articles dropped this week on psychotropics. NPR has a book review on the history of psych meds and why they became so popular post 1970. It also questions their effectiveness and why research is at a standstill on developing new pharmaceutical treatments for mental illness. It never really occurred to me that treating mental illness with medicine has evolved as far as it could. It’s kind of like how new cars come out every year with a new and improved model. I just assumed the same was true for pharmaceuticals.
Also this week an article in Science Daily discusses how depression may evolve from a gut to brain connection.
Scientists have shown that transplanting gut bacteria, from an animal that is vulnerable to social stress to a non-stressed animal, can cause vulnerable behavior in the recipient. The research reveals details of biological interactions between the brain and gut that may someday lead to probiotic treatments for human psychiatric disorders such as depression.
WHAT?!? so while prescription antidepressants have maxed out their potential, simple healthy changes to your gut could cure depression? As my 8 year old son would say “Mind Blown!” Feel free to do the fist bump hand gesture if so inclined.
Sources:
Transplanting gut bacteria alters depression-related behavior, brain inflammation in animals
How Drug Companies Helped Shape A Shifting, Biological View Of Mental Illness
