The Use Of Anti-inflammatory Drugs Against Depression
For some time now, many studies have looked at the role of inflammatory processes on the state of depression. In this article, we are going to talk about the possibility of using anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of depression.
The classic treatment of major depression is based primarily on the use of antidepressants and cognitive therapy. However, according to some studies, this treatment only works for around 60% of patients. This therefore leaves 40% of patients at an impasse. Remember that untreated depression can still lead to suicide.
There are relatively many cases of major depression. It affects around 350 million people worldwide, or 1 in 10 adults. It is therefore important to explore therapeutic alternatives that can contribute to the treatment of this disorder.
The role of inflammatory processes in depression
As we said earlier, more and more studies seem to link depression to inflammatory processes in the brain. At first, it was not clear to determine the cause and effect relationship between depression and inflammation. Was depression the cause of the inflammatory process or vice versa?
Depression is generally a disorder involving several elements. Thus, psychosocial, genetic and biological factors are often involved in depression. Among these factors, stress also has a great influence. The latter is able to produce changes in our brain and even cause an inflammatory process.
However, a strong presence of inflammatory biomarkers has been observed in the blood of patients with major depression. These include proinflammatory cytokines
These are also able to induce changes in the central nervous system, the immune system and even the neuroendocrine system. In particular, there was an increase in C-reactive protein (CRP) as well as various interleukins.
The use of anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of depression
This inflammatory hypothesis of depression then opens up a wide range of therapeutic possibilities that can contribute to the treatment of this disorder. This is of particular interest in patients with major depressive states who do not respond to conventional antidepressants.
Thus, it has been observed that the inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines increases the effectiveness of antidepressants and, in general, improves the condition of patients suffering from this pathology. Initially, this correlation was discovered in oncological and anti-infective treatments. During these treatments, administration of alpha interferon has been found to produce symptoms similar to those of depressive states.
Today, the therapeutic use of anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of depression is still under investigation. Several animal studies have shown that administration of inflammatory cytokine antagonists decreases depressive behaviors as well as stress reactions.
These inflammatory cytokine antagonists, also called anti-inflammatory cytokines, are sometimes used in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis. Studies in these patients have shown their quite significant antidepressant effect as a side effect of therapy compared to a placebo.
Omega-3s as a complementary treatment for depression
Also in this context, some studies propose the use of omega-3 supplements as adjuvant treatment in the case of depression. Indeed, omega-3 has an anti-inflammatory effect. Other studies even establish a link between depression and a deficiency in polyunsaturated fatty acids of the omega-3 type.
In addition, in the various studies carried out, it is eicosapentaenoic or EPA that seems to be the most effective omega-3 fatty acid against depressive states. It turns out that it is also omega-3 that has the most important anti-inflammatory power.
EPA is thus able to influence the immune system and reduce certain pro-inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandins. It also modifies other molecular mechanisms.
To conclude, more research is still needed in this area. Depression is a very complex disorder. In addition, inflammatory processes show extremely diffuse symptoms.
Thus, it is still too early to establish a clear relationship between these two elements. It is undoubtedly a therapeutic field which remains open. This hypothesis, however, offers many perspectives and much hope for the future.
Our thoughts This theory tells us that major depression could sometimes be linked to inflammatory processes.
