The Role of Oxidative Stress in Major Depression: Does The Multiple Pathways Lead to Same Destination?

Major depression can be defined as changes in concern, perception, neurovegetative functions for at least two weeks coupled with periods of normal behavior in between the episodes. It has higher lifetime risk among single/ widowed or divorced women. Family history, genetic factors as well as serotonin and norepinephrine play an important role in the etiology. The exact diagnosis of major depression could not be made using the available laboratory test so rating scales are used for (i) identifying the severity and (ii) evaluating the response to the treatment. Any disparity between levels of oxidants and antioxidants with the equilibrium shifting towards oxidants due to either increase in the levels of oxidants or a decrease in the levels of antioxidants or both is known as oxidative stress. Many hypotheses have been proposed signifying the role of oxidative stress in the development of major depression. In the current review, a total of 63 results were used; out of those, 6 were books, 54 were original articles, and 3 were review articles, and the rest were excluded. The current study suggested multiple pathways terminating in oxidative stress and manifesting as various symptoms. The roles of various markers of oxidative stress suggested an increase in the levels of oxidants and reduction in the levels of antioxidant (enzymatic or nonenzymatic) which was reversed following the treatment with anti-depressant drugs. Since the oxidative stress is not exclusively present in major depression, the changes in oxidative stress markers cannot be considered as diagnostic of major depression.