17Jun
People recovering from depression with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have distinct changes as seen by brain imaging.
Depression can be treated by drug therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy or a combination of the two. It’s long been known that what helps one patient does not necessarily bring benefit to another. A fascinating study from researchers at the University of Toronto reveals that different treatments for depression cause specific changes in brain activity. It may be that these findings can help find the best treatment for the individual patient with depression.
The researchers looked at 14 depressed patients in recovery after CBT, giving them brain scans before and after treatment. This revealed specific patterns of alteration of brain activity, which are different from those found with drug therapy. CBT involves teaching the patient to alter negative thinking patterns, while antidepressant therapy alters levels of specific brain chemicals. From this study, it looks as if each treatment acts on a different part of the ‘depression’ circuits within the brain. In the future, it may be that brain scans could be an integral part of diagnosis and treatment of depression.
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