神经递质的异常浓度,下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺(HPA)轴的异常调节,以及第二信使系统的异常,均被认为可能在抑郁的病理生理学机制中有所参与。
关于单胺类神经递质与抑郁的病理生理学理论试图将已知的抗抑郁药的机制、与特定神经递质作用有关的证据、抑郁的临床表现联系起来。比如,多巴胺的异常可能导致动力、注意力受损,[16]Dunlop BW, Nemeroff CB. The role of dopamine in the pathophysiology of depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2007 Mar;64(3):327-37.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17339521?tool=bestpractice.com 去甲肾上腺素及多巴胺水平低则可能引起疲乏和嗜睡,[17]Nutt DJ, Baldwin DS, Clayton AH, et al. Consensus statement and research needs: the role of dopamine and norepinephrine in depression and antidepressant treatment. J Clin Psychiatry. 2006;67(suppl 6):S46-9.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16848678?tool=bestpractice.com 而去甲肾上腺素和 5-羟色胺调节受损可能引发躯体症状。[18]Greden JF. Physical symptoms of depression: unmet needs. J Clin Psychiatry. 2003;64(suppl 7):S5-11.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12755646?tool=bestpractice.com
一致的研究表明,抑郁患者无法靠睡前推注糖皮质激素地塞米松来抑制次日早晨正常节律的皮质激素峰[地塞米松抑制试验(DST)],还有其他一些支持的证据。[19]Ising M, Horstmann S, Kloiber S, et al. Combined dexamethasone/corticotropin releasing hormone test predicts treatment response in major depression - a potential biomarker? Biol Psychiatry. 2007 Jul 1;62(1):47-54.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17123470?tool=bestpractice.com
通过对国际上20个地点的神经影像学研究分析,发现患有严重抑郁症的成人眶额、扣带、岛状和颞叶皮质区域变薄,[20]Schmaal L, Hibar DP, Sämann PG, et al. Cortical abnormalities in adults and adolescents with major depression based on brain scans from 20 cohorts worldwide in the ENIGMA Major Depressive Disorder Working Group. Mol Psychiatry. 2017 Jun;22(6):900-9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5444023/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27137745?tool=bestpractice.com 以及海马体积缩小。[21]Schmaal L, Veltman DJ, van Erp TG, et al. Subcortical brain alterations in major depressive disorder: findings from the ENIGMA Major Depressive Disorder working group. Mol Psychiatry. 2016 Jun;21(6):806-12.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4879183/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26122586?tool=bestpractice.com[22]MacQueen G, Frodl T. The hippocampus in major depression: evidence for the convergence of the bench and bedside in psychiatric research? Mol Psychiatry. 2011 Mar;16(3):252-64.https://www.nature.com/articles/mp201080http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20661246?tool=bestpractice.com 在未接受治疗的抑郁症患者神经影像学研究中,也检测到额叶 - 边缘网络结构和功能异常。[23]Peng W, Chen Z, Yin L, et al. Essential brain structural alterations in major depressive disorder: a voxel-wise meta-analysis on first episode, medication-naive patients. J Affect Disord. 2016 Jul 15;199:114-23.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27100056?tool=bestpractice.com[24]Zhong X, Pu W, Yao S. Functional alterations of fronto-limbic circuit and default mode network systems in first-episode, drug-naïve patients with major depressive disorder: a meta-analysis of resting-state fMRI data. J Affect Disord. 2016 Dec;206:280-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27639862?tool=bestpractice.com