The serotonin system and depression
Professor Wayne Drevets discusses the serotonin system in relation to depression. Drugs that block serotonin reuptake in the brain (SSRIs) are commonly used to treat depression.
One of the systems in the brain that has been studied most in depression has been the serotonin system. A reason for that has been that drugs that would act relatively specifically on the serotonin system as their primary mechanism of action had antidepressant effects in humans who suffered from depression. So for example, most antidepressant drugs that are prescribed now are serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. They block the re-uptake of serotonin into cells that release serotonin, and ultimately increase the transmission of serotonin to some of the serotonin receptors. It’s thought that that’s probably is leading to some cascade of other events that may become particularly relevant in depression, but nevertheless the serotonin system in general has been shown to play important roles in modulating stress and coping with stress, and modulating emotional behavior in general. It’s thought that this system, if you have abnormalities of function within this system that may arise for example due to genetic mutations or to other kinds of impairments, if you have an impairment of the system, it may interfere with your ability to deal with stressful situations or it may interfere also with your ability to respond to antidepressant treatments.
serotonin, system, receptors, antidepressant drugs, medication, ssri, selective, ssris, reuptake, inhibitors, antidepressive, wayne, drevets
- ID: 2078
- Source: DNALC.G2C
- Download: Theora Video Windows Media Video MPEG 4 Video
Related Content
2079. Are SSRIs effective?
Professor Wayne Drevets examines the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in treating depression. Not all patients respond well to SSRIs and may need different treatments.
1402. Serotonin Receptors and SSRIs
Doctor Jon Lieberman discusses the propsed mechanism of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), a controversial treatment for depression.
2080. Biochemistry of depression
Serotonin is the biochemical most commonly associated with depression. Professor Wayne Drevets discusses other systems including norepinephrine, glutamate, and dopamine.
1990. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Professor James Potash discusses recent findings that question the effectiveness of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
861. Antidepressant Medications
A review of antidepressant medications.
889. Recycling Antidepressants
Many researchers are finding new ways to use drugs already available for treating depression.
887. Antidepressants and Suicide
"Over time, the aggregate risk of completed suicide is likely to be much lower with treatment than without treatment," says Steve Hyman, former director of the National Institute of Mental Health.
2225. Depression
An overview of depression-related content on Genes to Cognition Online.
890. Background to Depression
Although writers have described episodes of depression since antiquity, only recently have we recognized that the depressive disorders are among the most common and disabling medical conditions throughout the world.
918. 5-HTT Gene
The 5-HTT gene has been associated with both depression and autism.