How drug abuse is linked to depression - Research Paper Example

In a study conducted over high school children by Lewinsohn et al., (1993), as much as over 33% of them had experienced depression or some form of behavior disorder in their lifetimes which is quite significant. In one of the study by Regier et al. (1990), a link has been established between coexistence of drug dependence and depression; a cycle which leads to self-medication with involvement of same neurotransmitter family in both the cases. Similarly, further elaborating this point is the fact that in an article by Markou and Kenny (2002), it has been argued that there are similar pathophysiological mechanisms in drug dependence, depression and negative effects of schizophrenia.

It has been shown that there are adaptive changes in the brain in response to prolonged exposure to the drugs of abuse which act as a mechanism to oppose the immediate effects of the administered chemical (Markou et al., 1998; Koob et al., 1993). After the drug is stopped the result is a behavior specific to the type of the abused substance, broadly grouped together as withdrawl symptoms. Although, depression is not the single behavior abnormality seen in these cases, there are variety of other symptoms akin to the type of abused drug while depression being the common denominator in most of the cases (West & Gossop, 1994) .

Interestingly, this is also found in cases of withdrawal from therapeutic drugs as well (APA, 1994). So, it can be said that negative effects felt by the junkies compel them to take the drug again and again to counteract their pensive mood succumbing them to a vicious cycle from which they are powerless to get out of easily. ReferencesAmerican Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mentaldisorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC.Drugs and Depression. In Netdoctor. Retrieved November 27, 2010, from http://www.netdoctor.co.

uk/diseases/depression/drugsanddepression_000487.htmDrug Dependence. In MedlinePlus. Retrieved November 27, 2010, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001522.htmKoob, G.F., Markou, A., Weiss, F., & Schulteis, G. (1993). Opponent process and drug dependence: Neurobiological mechanisms. Semin Neurosci 5, 351-358.Lewinsohn, P.M., Hops, H., Roberts, E., Seeley, J.R., Andrews, J. A. (1993). Adolescent psychopathology: I. Prevalence and incidence of depression and other DSM-III-R disorders in high school students.

Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Vol 102(1), Feb 1993, 133-144Markou, A., & Kenny, P.J. (2002). Neuroadaptations to Chronic Exposure to Drugs of Abuse: Relevance to Depressive Symptomatology seen across Psychiatric Diagnostic Categories. Neurotoxicity Research Vol 4(4) pp. 297 - 313Markou, A., Kosten, T.R. and Koob, G.F. (1998). Neurobiological similarities in depression and drug dependence: a selfmedication hypothesis. Neuropsychopharmacology 18, 135-174.King, V.R. (2007). Poisoned Heart: I Married Dee Dee Ramone (the Ramones Years): A Punk Love Story.

Beverly Hills, CA: Phoenix Books.Regier D.A., Farmer M.E., Rae D.S., Locke B.Z., Keith S.J., Judd L.L.,& Goodwin F.K. (1990). Comorbidity of mental disorders with alcohol and other drug abuse: results from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) study. JAMA 262, 2511-2518West, R. & Gossop, M. (1994). Overview: A comparison of withdrawal symptoms from different drug classes. Addiction 89, 1483-1489.United States Department of Justice. National Drug Intelligence Center. (2004). Drug Abuse and Mental Illness Fast Facts: Questions and Answers.

(Report No. 2004-L0559-005. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs7/7343/index.htm#What