Neuroplasticity as a New Approach to the Pathophysiology of Depression and the Role of Antidepressants in Inhibiting Brain Stress–Induced Changes in Brain Activity

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental illness affecting approximately 2.5% of the general population. MDD is one of the leading causes of disability and it has been suggested to become the second highest burden of disease (measured in disability-adjusted life years) by 2020 (WHO 2007). MDD has negative social consequences in terms of unemployment and psychosocial impairment (Anderson et al. 2011). The pathophysiology of depression has been suggested to involve both external social stressors and internal genetic vulnerability.