Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Signal Attenuation as a Rat Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Published on: January 9, 2015
Paroxetine use in medically ill patients
Steven Stout Stout1, Wendy I Somerset, Andrew Miller
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) effectively treat depression in medically ill patients. Paroxetine is a key SSRI, demonstrating efficacy and safety in this population.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Depression is common in adults and complicates medical conditions.
- Biological links exist between psychiatric disorders, medical illnesses, and treatments.
- The interplay between depression and ischemic heart disease is well-researched.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the efficacy and safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for treating depression in patients with comorbid medical illnesses.
- To highlight the role of paroxetine in managing depression within this patient group.
Main Methods:
- Review of published studies on SSRIs in medically ill patients with depression.
- Focus on studies involving paroxetine.
Main Results:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are generally effective and safe for treating depression in patients with medical conditions.
- Paroxetine has shown significant contributions in this therapeutic area.
Conclusions:
- SSRIs are a preferred treatment for depression in medically ill individuals.
- Paroxetine is a valuable option for managing depression in patients with coexisting medical illnesses.
Related Concept Videos
Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs
Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists
Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS
Two specific drugs used in the treatment are alosetron (Lotronex) and eluxadoline (Viberzi). Alosetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist, works by slowing the movement of stools in the gut, reducing bowel...

