Animal Models of Depression

REFOJO D,; DEUSSING JM,

Neurobiology of Depression

Taylor and Francis Group

Año: 2012; p. 1 - 27

Major depression, also known as unipolar depression or major depressive disorder, is a main contributorto the global burden of disease. With respect to disability-adjusted life years, depressionpresently ranks third in the World Health Organization Global Burden of Disease study (WorldHealth Organization 2008) and is projected to be the second leading cause worldwide by 2030(Mathers and Loncar 2006). Lifetime prevalence of the disease is 10–25% for women and 5–12% for men. Characteristic disease symptoms are depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, disturbed sleep and/or appetite, low energy, poor concentration, and suicidal ideations, which often become chronic or recurrent, substantially interfering with the individual’s ability to handle everyday life. Severe depression is life threatening—that is, withouttreatment, 10–15% of the affected subjects commit suicide.