Depression and neurotransmitters

The neurotransmitters are the special chemicals in the brain. These perform certain important tasks like transmitting the messages throughout the nerve cells of the brain. The neurotransmitters travel one neuron to the other neuron thereby passing the message of the brain. There are three primary neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine.

The function of these neurotransmitters is associated with depression. These neurotransmitters deal with the stress, emotions and certain physical drives of the human body. All these neurotransmitters may help in the treatment of depression. It has been found that the people who are depressed have lowered level of neurotransmitters. The anti depressants work by increasing the level of neurotransmitters in the brain. However, till now there is no clear fact about how neurotransmitters affect depression. There are also cases where certain people having depression have higher levels of neurotransmitters.

Therefore there is a confusion that whether the level of neurotransmitter in the brain affects depression or not. And this is the reason why the anti depressants do not work in some people. There is no direct relation between the levels of neurotransmitters and depression. Or else much more success would have been achieved with medication. Studies are still being carried on to find out this relation.