Project Summary

David Weinshenker, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2004) of Emory University, will study the interaction between depression and epilepsy through mouse behavior models, as well as the common molecular mechanism(s) underlying both diseases. Depression is the most common co-morbid psychiatric disorder in patients with epilepsy and patients with major depression also have a higher frequency of epilepsy. Additionally, some anticonvulsant therapies, such as valproic and vagus nerve stimulation, are also effective in treating affective disorders, and the neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE) is both antidepressant and anticonvulsant, and is required for the efficacy of drugs used to treat epilepsy and affective disorders in animal models. Dr. Weinshenker hopes this study will suggest novel treatments for epilepsy and depression, especially for individuals suffering from both disorders.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Unipolar Depression\Epilepsy

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