I never understood why some medical providers understand that neurotransmitters are responsible for signaling transmissions, controlling movement, and autonomic functions such as, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, fight or flight response, sleep and/ or wakefulness. However, will not either admit or do not understand that these same neurotransmitters are also responsible for regulating mood and emotions.
The practice of medicine now knows that certain imbalances or malfunctions in neurotransmitter systems can lead to psychiatric disorders such as: low serotonin or dopamine can cause depression, low gaba can increase anxiety, and dysregulated dopamine can lead to schizophrenia. Medicine also knows that there are different types of Neurotransmitters: Excitatory Neurotransmitter, Inhibitory Neurotransmitters, and Modulatory Neurotransmitters. Excitatory promotes the firing of neurons allowing movement, autonomic functions, and increase or decrease mood regulation. Inhibitory suppresses neuronal firing which can create a calming effect. Modulatory influence a broad range of neurons to regulate or adjust processes in the brain such as mood or arousal. All three of these neurotransmitters work together to allow the human body and brain to function properly.
There are times when neurotransmitters are dysregulated possibly causing a mood disorder such as depression, anxiety, and or bipolar. Therefore, all medical providers should be screening patients for possible psychiatric conditions. This will allow patients to receive the proper and correct care for the psychiatric condition. Improper assessment, minimizing or and dismissing a patient’s mood can cause harm to the patient. By making the psychiatric condition worse and / or increasing the difficulty of treatment.
