Thread: a young science
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Old Sep 18, 2007, 08:11 AM
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i don't think that researchers do have very good models of ANY mental disorder (and / or the mechanisms that cause it).

it was noted that epileptics seemed calmer and a bit happier after their seizures so some doc thought that ECT might produce calmness and happiness in psych patients.

we still don't know why ECT seems to work. one theory is that the memory loss CAUSES the effect. another theory is that the memory loss is an UNWANTED SIDE EFFECT, however.

all of the major classes of medications were developed for different purposes and 'accidentally' found to benefit sufferers of mental illness. we don't have any idea why they work.

one line of reasoning (that pushed by the drug companies) goes like this:

drug x seems to alleviate behavioural symptom y
drug x seems to raise / lower amounts of neurotransmitter z
___________________________________________________________
therefore too high / low amounts of neurotransmitter z cause behavioural symptom y

but answer me this:

when the medication takes hours to pass through the blood brain barrier and disperse around the brain...

how come the medication takes weeks for its full effect?

any idea?

don't know anybody who knows...