ABC Q&A: **LIVE NOW**

[chookmojo]

@Phoenixq well I am content to disagree about neuroscience and the medical model. I consider the mind to be an emergent property of the brain, and I believe that brain function and structure is directly impacted by genetics, environment and experiences etc. I don't see how a concept of self can exist without the brain, how personality or beliefs or for that matter subjective experiences can exist without the brain, so that is my foundation. 

Of course what is considered abnormal or problematic are cultural constructs and entirely context dependant. One culture's Shaman is another culture's raving lunatic. One cultures demonic possession is another's schizophrenia.

Back when I was a teenager and into self harm I found it interesting how many cultures practise some form of ritualised mutilation as a right of passage into adulthood, and even how this is subverted into currently acceptable forms such as piercings, tattoos or cosmetic surgery.

Being in the wrong place at the wrong time has a huge impact on whether our behaviour is considered acceptable, whether it is pathologised. 

I 

[Phoenixq]

post deleted by user phoenixq

[Jacques]

I agree with @ivana,

It was a "beyond blue" version of mental health, it was really disappointing, we have this same discussion year, after year after year, the same things, the same statments, the same look of shock and horror on peoples faces and what actually happens, nothing, absolutely nothing, funding is cut, MH services are shutting down, topics are not being addressed because they are too uncomfortable, and around the merrigo we go.

I am sure we will have the exact same discussion next year, with the same catch phrases.

Tough subjects need to be addressed no matter how uncomfortable they may be.

[ivana]

@Phoenixq

Studies show there are pathologically findings in some  people with Depression (and some other mental illnesses) namely Oxidative stress,smaller Hippocampus volumes (in the Temporal Lobes),Hippocampal neuronal loss,Neuroinflammation,proinflammatory cytokines,mitochondrial dysfunction,dysfunction of HPA axis & lower levels of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor,amongst other things.

The ironic thing is that, unlike medical researchers,many many doctors are unaware of these findings and dont keep up to date.

Most of the antidepressants on the current market focus on Neurotransmitters-serotonin reuptake inhibitors and SNRI's and none of them are focused/directed towards the above findings.

The problem,as i see it isn't whether there are measurable pathological findings in Depression or not.

The actual real problem is that patients are sometimes not being "allowed" to themselves choose what treatment method they wish to proceed with.

Eg:a person may choose to be treated with CBT or an other form of therapy and another person may choose to be treated with Pharmaceuticals.

Like you stated,there are no lab tests for Depression,like for Cancer (for example), to ascertain whether that particular person with Depression has pathological findings or whether their  depression instead is psycho-social induced so due to this,it should be up to patients to themselves decide what treatment they think would be best for them and not up to the doctor to tell them/force them etc...

http://www.hindawi.com/journals/omcl/2015/898393/