International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience
Open Access

Abstract

Oxidative stress results from an oxidant/antioxidant imbalance, an excess of oxidants and/or a depletion of antioxidants. The brain consumes a large amount of oxygen, and has high lipid content and transition metals, so is at high risk for oxidative damage. Oxidative vulnerability of the brain has led some authors to suggest that oxidative damage may be a probable pathogenic factor for some neurological diseases. So many studies have examined oxidative damage in the brain that causes nervous system impairment. Recent study data support the role of oxidative stress in diverse psychiatric disorders. Oxidative stress has been implicated in depression, anxiety disorders and high anxiety levels. The findings which establish a link between oxidative stress and pathological anxiety have inspired a number of other recent studies focusing on the link between oxidative status and normal anxiety and also on a possible causal relationship between cellular oxidative stress and emotional stress. Oxidative stress has been associated also with several diseases which are specific for nervous system impairment, such as neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases, schizophrenia and major depressive disorder. These data not only suggest that oxidative mechanisms may form unifying common pathogenic pathways in psychiatric disorders, but also introduce new targets for the development of therapeutic interventions.

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