Biological basis of depression | Behavior | MCAT | Khan Academy

Created by Matthew Barry Jensen.

MCAT on Khan Academy: Go ahead and practice some passage-based questions!

About Khan Academy: Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. We tackle math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics, and more. Our math missions guide learners from kindergarten to calculus using state-of-the-art, adaptive technology that identifies strengths and learning gaps. We've also partnered with institutions like NASA, The Museum of Modern Art, The California Academy of Sciences, and MIT to offer specialized content.

For free. For everyone. Forever. #YouCanLearnAnything

[PriyabrataHalder]

I am a neuroscientist and know all these things in much more detailed and complicated ways. But I have to teach to undergrads from non-science backgrounds and I often find myself not knowing how to convey these ideas without being too much obnoxious. Thankfully in some cases these khan academy videos provide me correct guidelines. It's sad that they stopped the whole process of making these videos.

[fretnesbutke]

People who don't have Clinical Depression think they get it, but chances are, they don't. It can be a very lonely private hell.

[apparently]

We're inching our way closer to understanding major depression but I think cures are way over the horizon. Certainly not in my lifetime. I'll hobble on.

[houndmother]

I was diagnosed with major depression at 19, I'm 64 now. Have been on Antidepressants most of my life.. As someone said it's an awful private hell.

[mircy]

Why does the lecturer sound depressed himself?

[MGHOoL]

"no consistent abnormalities that have been seen in the tissues of these patients?"
What about the shrinking of the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus? the amygdela? come on that's common!

[OllertonMD]

This video was extremely vague. Essentially came down to “the front half of the brain isn’t as active as it should be” and “ monoamine’s might be low for some reason.” Major depressive disorder isn’t an actual disease, it’s a collection of symptoms that can be caused by all different kind of physiological issues. For example, 30 to 50% of people that meet criteria for MDD have unusually high inflammation in the brain and periphery, and many studies over the past 20 to 30 years have shown that inflammation in the brain specifically causes depression in some. This is easily measured by drawing a high sensitivity CRP, a ubiquitous, simple, cheap lab. People with a CRP over 1-3 do NOT do well on SSRIs. They respond better to noradrenergic antidepressants like Wellbutrin and anti-inflammatory or anti-neuro inflammatory interventions, such as Remicade, EPA, or even NSAIDs like celecoxib. Minocycline has also been shown to improve depression in people with inflammatory depression.

In short, it boggles my mind that there’s all of this research on the cytokine or inflammatory theory of depression, and there’s all of this data showing that you can target care for your patients more effectively by investigating inflammatory markers in their blood, yet none of the physicians I work with seem to care. Once I’m finished with my training I am going to use these concepts and tools to improve patient care. I refuse to simply just prescribe someone an antidepressant before turning over every stone I know of to look for actionable causes.

[roddybody]

The Amygdala seems to be the area where severe anxiety comes from, from what I've read.

[millenialmusings]

I dont like khan academy videos becuase he repeats himself all the time. It's very annoying.. Animations and a fast engaging narration style would help. The low number of likes on his videos are a proof that not many people find this content style engaging

[fabzyL]

Bro, I love the way you explain. I couldn’t explain it better. But a bit of a positive feedback, if you don’t mind me sharing: try to use a more varied tone.
This will keep people mor engaged . Content is top notch, but we as scientists and science communicators wanna make people feel enthusiastic about this

[marquzklein]

This educational video is so depressing, the narrator itself triggered my anxiety !

[HafizahHoshni]

Very informative! Thank you so much! 😃😃 19/3/2019

[DPHSoftware]

This guy's voice reminds me of the Animaniacs cartoon, 'Chairman of the Bored'.

[billybandyk]

W/all due respect 2 the medical field, mental health conditions (including depression) r NOT CHEMICAL IMBALANCES @ ALL; THEY R ENVIRONMENTAL IMBALANCES (read: HOW OTHER PEOPLE HANDLE & TREAT U). When some1 gets abused (especially but not limited 2 verbal, mental, emotional, & sexual), it's natural human instinct 2 stand up 4 1's self & fight back. More often than not, the person being abuse, assaulted, bullied, & harassed gets punished 4 displaying "inappropri8 behavior" while defending himself/herself from the abuse, bullying, & harassment committed against him/her by other people. As a result, the person being abused, bullied, & harassed often gets put on psych meds 2 "control" his/her behavior 4 defending himself/himself while being abused, bullied, & harassed by others. That's y mental health issues r often dismissed & disregarded bc it's so much easier 2 MEDIC8 THAN

[TashaBateslightray]

Thank you for these videos..they really have helped!!

[pipjacjjones]

I would say serotonin receptors under sensitivity due to the addictive dopaminergic addictions in are society.

[stevestevens]

You use the word “often” when describing meds that help those w depression. Why are you not aware of Irving Kitsch’s work on efficacy of anti-depressants? I would not include the word often when describing the experience of those taking these meds on how helpful they are. The evidence strongly suggests otherwise. Also, the serotonin deficiency theory has been discredited - please be more responsible in your presentations.

[jhb]

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). “By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8).

[ailirandmae]

I think reality today and Real Life hard times cause depression not brain always. God heals us not medications always. Why should I taking medication to believe it ...?