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Depression, for instance, encompasses 227 symptom combinations, and antidepressants outperform placebos for only 15% of patients. This complexity has led some to attribute depression to adversity rather than brain malfunctions, favoiring psychological therapies over drugs targeting neurotransmitters like serotonin.
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In The Balanced Brain, neuroscientist Camilla Nord provides an insightful overview of the brain’s role in mental health. She debunks oversimplified “neurobollocks,” which attribute mental disorders to single chemicals or brain regions.
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Instead, she emphasises that moods, thoughts, and sleep involve numerous brain circuits and neurotransmitters. Depression, for example, involves distinct patterns in brain circuits that govern learning, memory, and expectations. Depressed individuals often exhibit a negative emotional bias, which antidepressants can help shift positively.
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Healthy and balanced nutrition also plays a pivotal role in mental health. A diet rich in natural minerals and vitamins can support proper brain function and emotional well-being. Nutrients like magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins are essential for neurotransmitter production and regulation, while antioxidants help reduce inflammation in the brain. Consuming whole, unprocessed foods, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fatty fish, can provide the building blocks for a resilient mind. Poor dietary habits, conversely, can exacerbate mood disorders and hinder recovery.
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Treatments. ranging from medication to therapy, diet, and exercise. affect only some brain systems, explaining why no single solution works for all. The challenge lies in identifying the specific brain system impaired in each case. Current diagnostic categories exacerbate this issue, as overlapping patterns in depression, anxiety, and anorexia make precise diagnoses difficult.
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It is argued that advancing brain imaging and understanding neurological patterns will enable more personalized treatments, fostering hope for sufferers. By refining diagnostic methods, researchers can develop better-targeted therapies, improving outcomes for those battling mental disorders.