Question

Which statement is evidence suggesting that depression is NOT the result of a novel reaction of the nervous system to the modern environment?

a. The fundamental aspects of the modern environment differ significantly from prehistoric environments.
b. Depression is more prevalent among females compared with males.
c. Depression is seen in a variety of animals whose environments have not changed drastically in recent times.
d. The nervous system continues to adapt to the changing environment.

Answer 1

Studies showing that antidepressants regulate stress-related biological systems and evidence of depression across various cultures and epochs indicate that depression is not purely a result of modern life but has deep biological and historical roots.

Step-by-step explanation:

Evidence suggesting that depression is not the result of a novel reaction of the nervous system to the modern environment can be found in a variety of studies. One such piece of evidence is the finding that antidepressants directly downregulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, indicating that the biological systems involved in stress regulation are influenced by these medications.

Additionally, antagonism of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) reduces stress responses in primates, and an increase in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of noradrenaline is present continuously, including during sleep. These findings imply that dysregulation of a stress-related system is primary in major depressive disorder (MDD) rather than simply a consequence of a depressed mood. Moreover, the prevalence of depression throughout history and across cultures, and studies like those on childhood depression leading to unhealthy lifestyle choices related to cardiovascular disease, reinforce the idea that depression's origins are not exclusively tied to modern environmental factors.