A review of the neurobiological effects of psychotherapy for depression

Title
A review of the neurobiological effects of psychotherapy for depression
Publication Date
2010
Author(s)
Sharpley, Chris
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7922-4848
Email: csharpl3@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:csharpl3
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
American Psychological Association
Place of publication
United States of America
DOI
10.1037/a0021177
UNE publication id
une:7589
Abstract
Although randomized, controlled clinical trials have shown that different forms of psychotherapy may be efficacious for depression, psychotherapy has not been widely reported to have effects upon the neurobiological concomitants of depression in similar ways as medication. Neuroendocrinal changes that occur during depression (principally hypercortisolaemia) produce structural and functional alterations to the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala, plus the connectivity between these regions of the brain. This article reviews the evidence to date regarding the neurobiological effects of psychotherapy for depression and suggests a hypothetical pathway linking the nurturing effects of the therapist–patient "bond" and restoration of neuroendocrinal "balance." This pathway may provide a neurobiological causal link between psychotherapy and alleviation of depression in the same way as that which exists for pharmacological treatments, and argues for a model of depression that includes both biological and psychological effects of psychotherapy when considering treatment choice and application.
Link
Citation
Psychotherapy, 47(4), p. 603-615
ISSN
1939-1536
0033-3204
Start page
603
End page
615

Files:

NameSizeformatDescriptionLink