World of Psychology

Mice Study May Help Human Depression

By John M. Grohol, PsyD
Founder & Editor-in-Chief

Mice whose brains lack a specific protein react differently to stress than other mice, possibly offering a clue into the source of human depression, researchers at Washington University said in a study released Monday.

The St. Louis researchers, using genetically engineered mice, found they developed an imbalance in a hormone involved in stress response. During stressful situations, those mice behave as if they are depressed.

Mice studies can helpfully lead researchers to understand more about human behavior, but they’re not directly comparable. It generally takes a decade of additional research before such results can be confirmed and commercialized into a product that can help humans.


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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 29 Dec 2004
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.

APA Reference
Grohol, J. (2004). Mice Study May Help Human Depression. Psych Central. Retrieved on February 14, 2012, from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2004/12/29/mice-study-may-help-human-depression/

 

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