Structural and Neurochemical Alterations in Brain Regions of Depression and Suicide Patients

Depression is a common mental disorder that accompanies sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, guilty feelings, disturbances in sleep and many cognitive deficiencies that impair an individual’s ability to function properly in daily works deteriorating the quality of his life. At least 350 million people in theworld at present are the victims of depression making it as a leading cause ofdisability globally . Onset of depression may be triggered by multiple factors like genetics, changes in hormone levels, certain medical conditions, stress, grief or difficult life circumstances etc. 

Any of these factors alone or in combination can give rise to changes in brain chemistry that give rise to many symptoms of depression. Depression is considered as the psychiatric diagnosis most commonly associated with suicide. It has been reported that more than two-thirds of suicide completers and suicide attempters, exhibit serious depressive episodes at the time of their suicidal acts. Recent studies have demonstrated that structural abnormalities occur in brain regions implicated in higher cognitive functions both in depression patients and in suicidal brains.  Read more........................