Treat depression to help Multiple Sclerosis
Evidence from back in 2001 produced by Archive of Neurology, suggested that treating depression effectively might also slow the progress of multiple sclerosis (MS).
According to researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, treated 14 depressed MS patients using either psychotherapy or sertraline for 16 weeks. They found that, among patients who had relapsing remitting (off and on) MS, a reduction in the symptoms of depression was accompanied by a reduction in levels of interferon gamma (an immune system glycoprotein that hastens the development of MS).
Other studies have found that patients reporting excessive stress have demonstrated new brain lesions within months. Now, with this study, it appears the opposite may also be true. Not surprisingly I would think, as many as 50 per cent of MS patients suffer from depression. In this study, symptoms of depression and production of both types of interferon gamma declined significantly during treatment, suggesting that managing depression could be an important component in the management of patients with MS
suggests that effective treatment of depression may also slow the progress of multiple sclerosis (MS) in these patients.
Other studies have found that patients reporting excessive stress have demonstrated new brain lesions within months. Now, with this study, it appears the opposite may also be true. Food for thought, but a bit of a minefield when toxicity or effects from drugs can in my opinion be quite harmful in themselves.
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