An East Meets West Approach to the Understanding of Emotion Dysregulation in Depression: From Perspective to Scientific Evidence

Abstract

Depression, an emotion regulation disorder, is a prevalent mental illness in the world. Meanwhile, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been increasingly regarded as a promising and effective alternative therapy approach for patients with depression. Despite many years of research on depression, the current understanding of the pathological mechanism of depression based on TCM theories is still in its infancy. Due to the lack of scientific evidence in the past, TCM is not fully recognized by researchers around the world. This review firstly summarizes the pathogenesis and etiology of depression in terms of both Eastern and Western medical systems. Secondly, it adopts an integrated Eastern and Western approach to propose some plausible neurophysiological pathways linking the liver, spleen, and heart functions explicated in TCM theory. The aim of this theoretical review is to bridge the knowledge gap between Eastern and Western medicine, which may better explain the pathology of depression.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Body Constitutions and Psychological Determinants of Depression among University Students in Malaysia: A Pilot Study

“…Additionally, poor sleep quality and insomnia in university students [113] could influence the liver's blood storing ability, thus affecting its dispersion and dredging function, which will then cause qi-stagnation [19]. Dysregulation of the liver qi is the main cause of depression, and is associated with the neuroendocrine system [114]. Preliminary studies in Western medicine support that dysregulation of the norepinephrine system located in the locus coeruleus (LC/NE) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) might be a root cause for depression [114,115].…”

“…Dysregulation of the liver qi is the main cause of depression, and is associated with the neuroendocrine system [114]. Preliminary studies in Western medicine support that dysregulation of the norepinephrine system located in the locus coeruleus (LC/NE) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) might be a root cause for depression [114,115].…”

Traditional Chinese Medicine in Depression Treatment: From Molecules to Systems

“…TCM is a holistic medicine, which emphasizes the integrity of body and environmental effects on the internal homeostasis. In TCM, depression is thought to result from "vital energy" deficiency that is caused by dysfunction of multiple physiological systems in the body, such as dysregulation of blood circulation, inflammation, or "dampness and phlegm" (Ye et al, 2019). Strengthening "vital energy" is its healing principle, but correction of imbalance in other physiological systems by stimulating blood circulation, restraining inflammation, or removing "phlegm and dampness" is also needed (Feng et al, 2016).…”

The Neuroscience of Nonpharmacological Traditional Chinese Therapy (NTCT) for Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Available evidence suggests that there will be a drop in the level of cortisol in patients with depression after acupuncture intervention. Thus, the dysregulation of the HPA axis can be considered as a central pathophysiological process caused by depression [38, 39].…”

“…Once the sympathetic nerve is activated, adrenaline medulla will release NE and E due to the activated adrenal gland. Thus, there is a positive bidirectional feedback loop between the CRH and the sympathetic nerve [39, 41].…”