Medical and Biological Aspects of Depression

The article reveals the issues of etiology, theories of development and pathogenesis of depression, both medical-biological and psychological. The author describes the main psychological predictors of depression, as well as pathogenic mechanisms associated with functional deficiency of the serotonergic system and with disregulation of the noradrenergic system. The author analyzes the genetic polymorphism which predisposes to more pronounced development of depressive symptoms and development of suicidal behavior in stressful situations, as well as to the violation of neurotransmitter functioning under stress. The article considers the conjugation of clinical characteristics of depressive disorders with immunological, neurotransmitter and hormonal parameters, involvement of these homeostatic systems in the mechanisms of psycho-neuro-immunomodulation and in the pathogenesis of depressive disorders. A modern approach to the treatment of depression, suggesting the combination of different methods of antidepressant therapy (including their classification) and psychotherapeutic care. The author analyzes the variants of somatized depressive reaction, related to latent nature of the disease’s course that may be important for non-medical health specialists.