A network-based analysis anticipates time to recovery from major depression revealing a plasticity by context interplay

Translational Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Jan. 28, 2025

Predicting disease trajectories in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) can allow designing personalized therapeutic strategies. In this study, we aimed to show that measuring patients' plasticity – is the susceptibility modify mental state identifies at baseline who will recover, anticipating time transition wellbeing. We conducted a secondary analysis two randomized clinical trials, STAR*D and CO-MED. Symptom severity was assessed using Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology while context measured enrollment Quality-of-Life Enjoyment Satisfaction Questionnaire. Patients were retrospectively grouped based on both their response or remission levels through network-based mathematical approach operationalizes as inverse symptom network connectivity strength. The results anticipate remission. Connectivity strength among symptoms significantly lower thus higher experiencing fast recovery. When interplay between considered, are predictive only subjects favorable context, confirming magnifies influence mood. conclusion, assessment holds promise for predicting MDD trajectories, potentially informing design treatments interventions. combination high experience emerges critical achieve

Language: Английский

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Tacit Creationism Encourages Oversimplified Views of Functions and Dysfunctions

European Journal of Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 61(5)

Published: March 1, 2025

Notions of function and dysfunction are fundamental for neuroscience, psychology psychiatry but remain contentious. We propose that some these controversies arise from 'tacit creationism', which disavows a designer nonetheless views bodies brain-minds as if they products conscious planning with discrete parts serve specific functions. Many philosophers agree 'failure to perform normal function' is the concepts physical disease mental disorder. However, unlike machines computers, no blueprint defines single phenotype brain-minds. Instead, varying genes interact one another environments create individuals who vary in ways give advantages disadvantages depend on environment. clinically relevant variations influence gain control systems adaptive responses such anxiety low mood, making it difficult draw bright line between excessive activation distressing emotions particular context. Literal interpretations metaphor body machine or brain-mind computer encourage essentializing normality pathology-expecting functions be those dysfunctions involve anatomo-physiological molecular defects corresponding broken parts. Rejecting tacit creationism, accepting messy reality organic complexity, fuzzy boundaries disorders multiple difference-makers contribute pathogenesis offers better way forward psychiatry.

Language: Английский

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Towards a Conceptual Framework to Better Understand the Advantages and Limitations of Model Organisms

European Journal of Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 61(7)

Published: March 31, 2025

ABSTRACT Model organisms (MO) are widely used in neuroscience to study brain processes, behavior, and the biological foundation of human diseases. However, use MO has also been criticized for low reliability insufficient success rate development therapeutic approaches, because led overoptimistic simplistic applications, which sometimes resulted wrong conclusions. Here, we develop a conceptual framework support scientists their practical work foster discussions about power limitations. For this purpose, take advantage concepts developed philosophy science adjust them application by neuroscientists. We suggest that can be best understood as tools gain information group species or phenomenon interest. These learning processes made possible some properties MO, facilitate process acquisition understanding provide advantages, possibility transfer between species. residual uncertainty remains, incorrect generalizations side‐effects epistemic benefits, consider representational risks. This suggests most effectively, should analyze similarity relation involved species, weigh advantages risks certain invest carefully designed validation experiments. Altogether, our analysis illustrates how benefit from philosophical research practice.

Language: Английский

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Taming Complexity from the Interface: Simplifying Neuroscience

Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 544, P. 102 - 103

Published: March 5, 2024

Language: Английский

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Let's fail better: Using philosophical tools to improve neuroscientific research in psychiatry

European Journal of Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 60(10), P. 6375 - 6390

Published: Oct. 14, 2024

Despite predictions that neuroscientific discoveries would revolutionize psychiatry, decades of research have not yet led to clinically significant advances in psychiatric care. For this reason, an increasing number researchers are recognizing the limitations a purely biomedical approach research. These call for reevaluating conceptualization mental disorders and argue non-reductionist health. The aim paper is discuss philosophical assumptions underly psychiatry offer practical tools overcoming potential conceptual problems derived from those assumptions. Specifically, we will discuss: analogy problem, questioning whether health equivalent brain disorders, normativity addressing value-laden nature categories priority which describes level analysis (e.g., biological, psychological, social, etc.) should be prioritized when studying conditions. In addition, explore strategies mitigate might arise due these implicit Overall, suggest use neuroscientists, demonstrating benefits closer collaboration between neuroscience philosophy.

Language: Английский

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