[Multiaxial evaluation of the pathophysiology of mood disorder and therapeutic mechanisms of clinical drugs by neuronal plasticity and neuronal load].

Abstract

Impairment of neuronal plasticity is important in the pathophysiology of mood disorder. Both zinc deficiency and social isolation impair neuronal plasticity. Both cause a depressive state. However, in experiments using animals, their combined loading induced manic-like behavior. Therefore, it was inferred that moderate impairment of neuronal plasticity induces a depressive state, and that further impairment of neuronal plasticity induces a manic state. However, some kind of load toward neuronal function through neural transmission can influence mood disorder symptoms without direct effects on neuronal plasticity. Our hypothesis is that mania is an aggravation of depression from the perspective of neuronal plasticity, and that multiaxial evaluation by neuronal plasticity and neuronal load through neural transmission is useful for understanding the pathophysiology of mood disorder. There are many clinical aspects that have been difficult to interpret in mood disorder: Why is a mood stabilizer or electric convulsive therapy useful for both mania and depression? What is the pathophysiology of the mixed state? Why does manic switching by an antidepressant occur or not? Our hypothesis is useful to understand these aspects, and using this hypothesis, it is expected that the pathophysiology of mood disorder and clinical mechanism of mood stabilizers and antidepressants can now be understood as an integrated story.