Is mental illness caused by excessive or insufficient dopamine

The relationship between mental illness and dopamine needs to be analyzed based on specific types. Schizophrenia is usually associated with excessive dopamine secretion, while depression may be associated with dopamine deficiency. Dopamine system abnormalities mainly involve mechanisms such as changes in receptor sensitivity, neurotransmitter imbalance, dysfunction of brain regions, genetic factors, and environmental stimuli.

The abnormal dopamine level in psychotic patients is not a single pattern. Overactivity of dopamine in the midbrain limbic pathway may lead to hallucinations and delusions in patients with schizophrenia, while decreased dopamine function in the prefrontal cortex is associated with cognitive symptoms. The movement disorders associated with Parkinson's disease are directly manifested as degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. This bidirectional abnormality indicates that dopamine plays a differential regulatory role in different brain regions. Some patients with depression have weakened dopamine reward pathway function in the nucleus accumbens, manifested as a lack of pleasure. However, some bipolar disorder manic episodes may result in elevated dopamine levels. Environmental stress affects dopamine secretion through the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, and long-term stress may cause adaptive changes in the dopamine system. Genetic polymorphisms such as COMTVal158Met can also lead to differences in dopamine metabolism efficiency. Maintaining the balance of the dopamine system requires comprehensive intervention. Regular exercise can promote basal ganglia dopamine release, the Mediterranean diet provides tyrosine precursors, and mindfulness training can regulate the prefrontal cortex's regulatory function on the limbic system. It is recommended that patients with mental illness undergo regular neurotransmitter testing and, under the guidance of a doctor, combine medication and non medication methods for personalized regulation to avoid self use of substances that affect dopamine.