Stress and Depression: A Case of Neuronal Life or Death

Ronald Duman, Yale School of Medicine

November 18, 2009 @ 04:00 pm to 05:00 pm

108 Wartik Laboratory, CG623 Hershey

Event Website

Dr. Duman s work has focused on the molecular and cellular actions of stress, depression, and antidepressant treatments, providing the basis for a neurotrophic hypothesis of depression. This hypothesis is based on work demonstrating that stress and depression decrease neurotrophic factor expression in the brain, contributing to atrophy and loss of neurons. In contrast, chronic antidepressant treatment increases neurotrophic factor levels and increases the proliferation of new neurons in the adult brain, thereby blocking or reversing the effects of stress and depression. These findings represent groundbreaking advances in our understanding of stress and depression and provide a framework for developing novel therapeutic agents.

Contact

Bernhard Luscher
bxl25@psu.edu
865-5549