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Learned helplessness: unique features and translational value of a cognitive depression model

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Abstract

The concept of learned helplessness defines an escape or avoidance deficit after uncontrollable stress and is regarded as a depression-like coping deficit in aversive but avoidable situations. Based on a psychological construct, it ideally complements other stress-induced or genetic animal models for major depression. Because of excellent face, construct, and predictive validity, it has contributed to the elaboration of several pathophysiological concepts and has brought forward new treatment targets. Whereas learned helplessness can be modeled not only in a broad variety of mammals, but also in fish and Drosophila, we will focus here on the use of this model in rats and mice, which are today the most common species for preclinical in vivo research in psychiatry.

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Acknowledgement

This work was funded through a grant from the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF, 01GQ1003B).

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  1. RG Animal Models in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany

    Barbara Vollmayr & Peter Gass

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  1. Barbara Vollmayr
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Correspondence to Barbara Vollmayr.

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Vollmayr, B., Gass, P. Learned helplessness: unique features and translational value of a cognitive depression model. Cell Tissue Res 354, 171–178 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-013-1654-2

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