Good point--my mistake, thanks for correcting it. I told you I was still asleep!
Thanks again,
Carol


-----Original Message-----
From:   David Epstein [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent:   Sun 3/14/2004 12:56 PM
To:     Teaching in the Psychological Sciences
Cc:     
Subject:        RE: Withdrawal from antidepressants
On Sun, 14 Mar 2004, DeVolder Carol L went:

> the body adjusts to the med--it changes in dendritic structure as
> well as metabolism. The change in dendritic structure may include
> "upregulation" (becoming more sensitive by adding new dendrites) or
> "downregulation" (becoming less sensitive by reducing dendrites).

Close, but no axon. :)  Upregulation and downregulation refer to
increases and decreases in numbers of receptors--a receptor being a
single molecule.

Gross morphological changes can also occur (usually in the form of
increased numbers of dendritic spines, which are bumpy outgrowths
along dendrites), but such changes are usually referred to with the
term "plasticity."

As for the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms in the absence of other
symptoms of dependence--sure, that can happen, and it does happen with
many antidepressants.  See the DSM-IV criteria for substance
dependence, in which withdrawal symptoms are neither necessary nor
sufficient for a diagnosis, though they may contribute to it.

--David Epstein
  [EMAIL PROTECTED]


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