Study: Social Stress Can Spur Depression

Wednesday March 14, 2007

Watching what happens to the brains of bullied rats has led researchers to make some conjectures on the link between extreme social stress and depression. According to a Reuters report, the researchers had expected to find that a confrontation with older, bigger rats would keep new cells from forming in the brains of young rats, or kill those new cells off quick. What they found, though, is that new cells formed and survived, for a short time -- but two-thirds died out within a week.

The death of young nerve cells is thought to be a factor in the onset of depression, and this study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, strengthens the belief that extreme stress is a trigger, but offers the tantalizing possibility of a "fix" -- if the cells do form and don't die off instantly, could something be done to counteract the stress effects? Current antidepressants take too long to work, but the possibility exists that a quick-acting drug could stop depression before it starts. At the very least, it's a good impetus for parents to stay aware of what's going on with their children, and react quickly with support and care in the wake of traumatic experiences.