The thing we all want to know: When will there be a cure for depression and bipolar disorder? Barring that, are more effective treatments in the pipeline?

Suffice to say, it is impossible to arrive at a meaningful answer without first coming to some basic understanding as to how our brains work. This is the theme of my first nine articles, grouped as "Brain Science 101." Some of the content is introductory, some of it your psychiatrist probably doesn't know about yet. I aimed for easy readability, but, hey, this is brain science. The important thing is to pick up the gist and not worry about specifics, unless of course you're writing a term paper. Take it from me - this is exciting stuff.

Genetics overlaps with brain science, which the content here reflects. Between the two, psychiatry will never be the same. But first we have to find those elusive mood genes. That is, assuming there is such a thing as a mood gene. And assuming we've found them how they're connected to a specific brain function. And even if we do, is gene therapy feasible? The nine "Genes" articles put you in the picture.

"Other Science" looks at how we are beginning to understand mood from two different perspectives. "The Darwinian Challenge" wonders whether depression and bipolar disorder confer any survival advantages while "Solving the Mood Riddle" looks at how surveying large populations across different nations can turn up surprising information (no boring statistical stuff, here).

"Progress or Regress" looks at the state of mood research from both a glass half full and glass half empty perspective. We definitely know much more than in Dec 2000, when I started this Website, but we have a very long long way to go. We're talking decades rather than years for truly breakthrough treatments, and there are no guarantees. Perhaps, if we're lucky, our kids will benefit, but that shouldn't stop us from visualizing the possibility of a fortuitous breakthrough. Feel free to dream as you read.

New

Dopamine - Serotonin's Secret Weapon

Why we need to pay special attention to the dopamine connection in depression.

Inhibiting GSK-3

A quirky little enzyme is about to hit the bigtime.

Gene Odyssey

New gene studies are challenging the DSM.

Psychiatry's Big Bang

How two landmark studies and their successor findings are changing the way we think.

What Is Your Opinion?

Do you think there will be a breakthrough treatment for depression or bipolar in the next five years?

Claire (age 18, March 5, 2001): I think there will be, at least I am hoping and praying there will be. More and more people are now realising that these disorders are nothing to be ashamed off, and are turning to their doctors for help. Having been caught in a pit of depression myself for the past three years, I am sure most people in my situation would agree that drugs are not the most favourable option. I also know from experience that counselling, psythotherpy and the such aren`t much fun either. We're not demanding miracles, just asking for more help, understanding and options than available now.

Sheb (March 14, 2001): As soon as someone really famous admits to having bipolar, someone like Sharon Stone, with money and clout behind them, we will get a breakthrough. Think AIDS, think MS.... when it becomes fashionable to have the illness, or fashionable to support it, we will get a breakthrough. Someone in Hollywood, maybe a scientologist, needs to get it. When the Simpsons have a show about it...... Homer the Bi-Polar? This is a cynical thought I know, but really, I think its true.

Susan (March 15, 2001): Yes, I believe there will be a breakthrough in the next 5 years. The outcome of the STEP project to come up with a consistent treatment for
bipolar will be available. Also, maybe treatments like transcranial magnetic stimulation or something similar
will be available for those with depression too far gone.
Who knows what else will be available by then ? Maybe some sort of gene therapy will be on the horizon.

Jerry (June 20, 2001): No. I think the drug companies control what gets cured and what doesn't. There are so many folks on drugs that a "cure" would literally pull the rug out from under drug company profits. Just a thought with the knowledge I have at this time.

Melissa (June 26, 2001): The real question is whether or not the patient can afford the breakthroughs. Here in Alabama we do not have insurance parity. Most people with serious brain disorders are forced into the public system, since there are no private sources of treatment. Recent changes in the way mental health services are funded have created emergency situations where hospitals are competing with community health systems for money. Hiring freezes have left the existing staff with higher patient ratios. Right now getting adequate treatment is a blessing. Finding a doctor willing and able to devote the energy necessary to help treatment resistant bipolar patients is more difficult now than it ever has been.

Ray (June 26, 2001): Yes, but nothing resembling a cure.

John (June 30, 2001): Difficult to predict the future, isn't it? Most of the breakthroughs we see happening are in the realm of the body, not the mind. I just put down a Newsweek article about the new artificial heart. I would think a breakthrough would need some bigtime funding, which isn't happening. But you never know, something could come out of left field and revolutionize things. Perhaps some sort of gene therapy? I would say 5 years, probably not. 10 years, maybe.

Mike (July 1, 2001): Bipolar Disorder is known to be genetic, and is sometimes passed on to another member of the family, and/or the next generation down. I believe that this would need to be resolved or eliminated first and foremost, and then possibly it wouldn't be so widespread in generations to come. A cure is almost if not next to impossible (for "manics" anyway) because episodes can be brought on from unresolved past problems. That's my opinion, after 16 years with my wife with manic depression. I still don't to have much knowledge about it, but I'm very happy that I found this WEB SITE, because I have many unanswered questions.

Donna Gould (July 4, 2001): I think we already have medicine that controls bipolar disorder for the most part. So, no, I don't think scientists will find one drug which can claim to be the "miracle" cure so to speak won't be possible in five years. For every person who has bipolar disorder, there are a dozen different drugs and doses prescribed. This means that in order to help the 1-5% of the country believed to suffer from bipolar disorder, scientists will have to discover the exact neurotransmitter(s) effected and the exact mechanism of operation in the body causing the problem. I'd say we're 10 years away from that kind of help.