Contemporary adolescent depression: Multidimensional analysis from neurobiological, psychological, and social integrative perspectives

Figure 2 Neurotransmitter metabolite imbalance in depression: Excitatory/inhibitory dysregulation and monoamine deficiency model. This diagram illustrates the neurotransmitter imbalance characteristic of depression, showing elevated glutamate and decreased GABA resulting in disrupted excitatory/inhibitory balance, alongside reduced monoamines (5-hydroxy tryptamine, dopamine, norepinephrine) with increased metabolites. These neurotransmitter dysregulations create a multidimensional dysfunction affecting emotion regulation, cognitive function, sleep cycles, and appetite control, demonstrating the complex neurobiological mechanisms underlying depression. DA: Dopamine; Glu: Glutamate; NE: Norepinephrine; 5-HT: 5-hydroxy tryptamine.