Questions raised by the cytokine hypothesis of depression.
The cytokine hypothesis of depression raises a certain number of questions. These questions include: the inability of the theory to account for the classical (Freudian) psychodynamics of depression; the role of sensitization in cytokine-induced depression; the compatibility of some of the effects of cytokines (on sleep, on cognition, on the HPA) with the hypothesis; the possibility of occurrence of depression in the absence of an increase in circulating cytokines; the nature of the relationships between cytokines, stress, and depression; the compatibility of the effects of cytokines on brain monoamines with the current monoamine hypothesis of depression; the inability of antidepressants to fully abrogate the brain effects of individual cytokines in animal experiments. Based on these limitations of the theory, it is proposed to define a new clinical entity designated as "the cytokine-associated depressive syndrome."
de Beaurepaire
Renaud
R
CH Paul Guiraud, 54, avenue de la République, 94806 Villejuif, France. rdebeaurep@aol.com
D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D016207:Cytokines