WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Scientists have found clues in the brains of people with severe depression that may help explain why many suffer from chronic illnesses! according to a U.S. study published on Monday.
Brain imaging showed that emotional areas of the brain were more active when depressed people felt they might suffer or were experiencing pain.
Irina Strigo of the University of California
San Diego! and her colleagues gave volunteers eight seconds to warn them that they might feel some pain – the researchers touched their arms overseas data with a hot device that caused temporary pain but did not burn the skin.
Even before the pain was felt
You saw a lot of activity in the emotional areas of the brain! and when the pain was felt you saw the helplessness! even the lack of attempts at how do you make sure they call you? self-regulation!” Strigo said in a telephone interview.
The team studied 15 young people in their 25s who had severe depression but were not receiving treatment! and compared their MRI brain scans with 15 healthy controls.
As the pain began! the depressed
patients showed more activity in areas of the brain that process emotions! including the amygdala and insula! than the control group.
Within five seconds of touching business to consumer reviews the device! their brain activity was more intense; meanwhile! the depressed patients’ brain areas that reduce pain were less active.
The researchers found that more than three-quarters of depressed patients had recurrent or chronic pain! and 30-60% of chronic pain patients also had depressive symptoms.