Stress, the Brain and Depression

Can traumatic life events cause depression? Studies generally point to a connection between adverse life events and depression. However, establishing a causal rather than associative connection, the key concern of this book, is more problematic. What neurobiological changes may be induced by stress and depression, and to what extent do these changes correspond? The authors structure their examination around three major themes: the pathophysiological role of stress in depression; whether or not a subtype of depression exists that is particularly stress-inducible; and, finally, how best to diagnose and treat depression in relation to its biological underpinnings.

Introduction; 1. Diagnosing depression; 2. Traumatic life events: general issues; 3. Life events and depression: preliminary issues; 4. Life events and depression: is there a causal connection; 5. Genetics and depression Jim van Os; 6. Gene-environment correlation and interaction in depression Jim van Os; 7. Monomines and depression; 8. Stress hormones and depression Ron de Kloet and Herman van Praag; 9. Stress, the brain and depression; Epilogue; Index.