Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder: The Concept of Symmetry Breaking

Abstract

In this paper we consider the results obtained by biochemical experimental data of platelet membrane fatty acids processed by a Self Organizing Map (SOM) from apparently healthy, bi-polar and major depressive subjects. The SOM shows that major depressive subjects belong to an area which is completely disconnected from that of healthy and bi-polar. Locking at the location of the data over the SOM, we find also a region which we attribute to psychotic subjects according to the clinical diagnosis. We translated these facts in terms of symmetry breaking, confirming that major depressive disorder (MDD) is a true disease completely trapped apart from healthy and bi-polar subjects. NeuroQuantology | December 2012 | Volume 10 | Issue 4| Page 676-687