Increasing Resilience to Traumatic Stress: Understanding the Protective Role of Well-Being
J Tory Toole1, Mark A Rice1,2, Jordan Cargill1
1College of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|April 30, 2018
Summary
This study identifies a novel biobehavioral feedback network. This mechanism, involving dopamine, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and cortisol, promotes well-being and protects against depression and anxiety.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Computational Biology
Background:
- The brain uses feedback and feed-forward mechanisms involving neurochemicals and immune markers to maintain homeostasis.
- Previous models identified a regulatory program supporting chronic depression and anxiety, distinct from healthy equilibrium.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how subjective well-being contributes to therapeutic outcomes in depression.
- To identify specific biobehavioral feedback mechanisms linking well-being to molecular signaling.
Main Methods:
- Screened 288 candidate feedback patterns connecting well-being to molecular signaling networks.
- Simulated stressful events on candidate networks while maintaining high subjective well-being.
- Utilized a previously constructed model of biobehavioral feedback.
Main Results:
- A specific feedback network was isolated where well-being is promoted by dopamine and acetylcholine.
- This network also promotes norepinephrine and inhibits cortisol expression.
- This mechanism effectively reproduced well-being's role in promoting resilience and protecting against depression and anxiety.
Conclusions:
- Subjective well-being plays a crucial role in maintaining brain homeostasis and preventing mood disorders.
- The identified biobehavioral feedback network offers a potential therapeutic target for depression and anxiety.
- Dopamine, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and cortisol are key neurochemical mediators in this resilience-promoting pathway.
Keywords:
Computational modelingDepressionHomeostatic regulationPositive psychologyReverse engineeringWell-beingMore Related Videos
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