[New options in the treatment of depression]

Despite the advances in the psychopharmacology, the treatment of depressive disorder is still not satisfactory. All current pharmacological substances are affecting the monoamines in the central nervous system. The present review discusses advances in the field of monoaminergic antidepressants as well as new treatment alternatives. The new monoaminergic substances include metabolites of known antidepressants, direct serotonin-agonists, and triple-reuptake inhibitors, blocking the transport of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Non-monoaminergic strategies include substances affecting melatonin or neuropeptides. Glutamate modulating agents such as ketamine or riluzole are another promising approach in the treatment of depression. Some advances have also been achieved in the field of HPA-axis modulation.