Brain Opioids Malresponsive in Major Depressive Disorder

Dr. David T. Hsu Ph.D Department of Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY Department of Psychiatry The Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience Institute University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MIMedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. David T. Hsu Ph.D
Department of Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Department of Psychiatry
The Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience Institute
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Dr. Hsu: The opioid system is known for its role in reducing physical pain.  In 2013, we published a study showing that brain opioids are also released during social rejection and acceptance.  The current study shows that individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) do not have comparable levels of opioid release compared to healthy individuals from the previous study.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Hsu: These findings suggest that the recurrence and maintenance of major depressive disorder may be a consequence of the brain’s opioid response (or lack thereof) to positive and negative social events.  In healthy individuals, the brain’s opioid system may help an individual feel better after negative social interactions, and sustain good feelings after positive social interactions.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Hsu: Future research is needed to discover what current or novel treatments may help boost the response of the brain’s natural opioid system during positive and negative social events.

Citation:

Mol Psychiatry. 2015 Jan 20. doi: 10.1038/mp.2014.185. [Epub ahead of print]

It still hurts: altered endogenous opioid activity in the brain during social rejection and acceptance in major depressive disorder.

Hsu DT1, Sanford BJ2, Meyers KK3, Love TM2, Hazlett KE4, Walker SJ5, Mickey BJ2, Koeppe RA6, Langenecker SA7, Zubieta JK8.

 

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr. David T. Hsu Ph.D, Department of Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, & Department of Psychiatry (2015). Brain Opioids Malresponsive in Major Depressive Disorder

Last Updated on November 4, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD