01 June 2007
Bacteria
in Dirt May Boost Mood as Well as Antidepressants
UK scientists reporting
in the journal Neuroscience (posted online March 28, 2007) claim
that exposure to a friendly soil bacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae, could
improve mood as effectively as antidepressants by boosting the immune
system.
Researchers exposed
mice to the bacteria and tested the animals with the "forced
swim" test commonly used in testing antidepressant drugs. This
exercise measures mood levels by how long the mice swim before giving
up. The study found that the exposed mice paddled much longer than a
control group.
"You could say the
[bacteria-exposed] mice had a more active coping style," said study
leader Chris Lowry of the University of Bristol in England.
The study's findings
are similar to those of previous research which showed that human cancer
patients treated with the bacteria reported significant increases in
their quality of life.
"These
studies help us understand how the body communicates with the brain and
why a healthy immune system is important for maintaining mental
health," Lowry said. "They also leave us wondering if we
shouldn’t all be spending more time playing in the dirt."
Antidepressants
Don’t Help Bipolar Patients
Although
antidepressants have been widely prescribed in 50-70% of patients for
the depression phase of bipolar symptoms, a new study finds they are not
generally effective.
"It is clear from
this data," said Dr. Thomas R. Insel, director of the National
Institute of Mental Health, "that antidepressants are not the
answer."
In the study, 366
patients at 22 academic centers in the U.S. were randomly assigned to
receive one of two antidepressants or a placebo for 26 weeks, in
addition to mood stabilizing medication they were receiving. Patients
also received psychological and social therapy.
Of the 179 participants
who received an antidepressant in addition to a mood stabilizer, 23.5%
achieved a "durable recovery," defined as an eight-week period
marked by no more than two depressive or two manic symptoms. In the
placebo group, 27.3% of patients achieved a "durable
recovery."
The
study was reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. The
lead author was Dr. Gary Sachs, director of the bipolar clinic at
Massachusetts General Hospital.
Source:
Alternative Mental Health News #66. http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/ezine/default.htm
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