A changing brain: how depression can alter our brain structure
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We’ve always known that mental illness and physical illness are intrinsically interlinked and inseparable. As more research is done into depression, researchers are discovering that it can alter our brain structure. It’s hoped that research in this area could lead to better treatment and less stigma.
Brain structure might sound like science fiction
The thought of depression changing our brain structure could feel scary or anxiety-provoking.
Though it might seem scary, these changes rarely occur in milder or shorter-term forms of depression. For those with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), the good news is that with the right treatment some effects on the brain are reversible, and new treatments are being developed all the time.
The more we understand how depression interacts with our brain, the more we can learn about how it affects our functioning. This means that as well as investigating possible medical treatments, we can also look at non-medical interventions to help us manage li...
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