Depressão contagiante: Um modelo de depressão por contágio social
Depressão contagiante: Um modelo de depressão por contágio social
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.172112613013
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Palavras-chave: Transtorno depressivo maior; contágio emocional; neurobiologia; neurônios espelho.
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Keywords: Major depressive disorder; emotional contagion; neurobiology; mirror neurons.
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Abstract: Major depression is a highly prevalent and multifactorial psychiatric disorder, associated with significant social, clinical, and economic impact on a global scale. Understanding its etiology requires the integration of different levels of analysis, including neurobiological, genetic, immunological, psychosocial, and environmental factors. This article presents a review of the main aspects related to major depressive disorder, initially addressing its clinical definition, prevalence, and therapeutic challenges. Subsequently, the main experimental models used to study depression in animals are discussed, with emphasis on the chronic unpredictable stress paradigm, widely employed to investigate the biological mechanisms associated with the disorder. The neurobiological bases of depression are also explored, highlighting alterations in corticolimbic circuits, dysfunction of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, neuroinflammatory processes, changes in neuronal plasticity, and the involvement of genetic and epigenetic factors. In addition, evidence demonstrating the role of the environment in modulating mental health is discussed, emphasizing both environmental risk factors and the therapeutic potential of environmental enrichment as a strategy capable of promoting neuroplasticity and neural protection. Finally, the foundations of emotional contagion are presented, a phenomenon through which affective states can be transmitted between individuals through social interactions, highlighting its relevance for understanding the social dynamics of stress and emotions. Taken together, the topics discussed reinforce the complex and multifactorial nature of depression and highlight the importance of integrative approaches that consider the interaction between biological, environmental, and social factors.
- Lisiê Valéria Paz
- Andressa Mayer
- Mariáh Cecília Graeff Buchele
- Helena Rodrigues Horta
- Isabelle Canal Rodrigues
- Léder Leal Xavier