Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Drug Therapy

Drug Therapy

The advent of drug therapy has profoundly shaped modern mental health care, providing targeted treatments for a range of psychological disorders. Psychotherapeutic drugs, classified into antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, address symptoms across anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. While these medications have transformed patient outcomes, they require careful management due to their potential side effects and limitations.
Antianxiety Medications

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

Antidepressant drugs are a class of medications primarily used for treating various mood disorders, including major depression, anxiety disorders, and other related conditions. These medicines work by modulating the neurotransmitter balance within the brain, alleviating depressive symptoms. Antidepressants can be broadly categorized into several groups according to their mechanism of action and chemical structure: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-Norepinephrine...

Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake

Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake

Certain drugs can affect how neurotransmitters called catecholamines, are released or taken back up in the adrenergic neuron. They can have different effects on the body's sympathetic transmission. Reserpine, a natural compound found in the Rauwolfia shrub, blocks a transporter called vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT), which leads to a buildup of catecholamines in the cell and reduces sympathetic transmission. Another drug called guanethidine works in multiple ways, including blocking...

Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy

Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy

Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation. For...

Theoretical Approaches to Psychological Disorder

Theoretical Approaches to Psychological Disorder

The development of psychological disorders, which are characterized by deviant, maladaptive, and personally distressing behaviors, has been explored through several theoretical approaches.
Biological approach
The biological approach posits that internal, organic factors are the primary causes of such disorders. This perspective emphasizes brain structure and function, genetic predispositions, and neurotransmitter imbalances. For example, schizophrenia has been associated with both genetic...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

[The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological health of healthcare workers].

Revue medicale de Liege·2020

Same author

[Alcohol dependence in primary care : a clinical approach by the GP].

Revue medicale de Liege·2019

Same author

[Psychiatric complications associated with alcoholism].

Revue medicale de Liege·2019

Same author

[Update on developemental dyspraxia in children].

Revue medicale de Liege·2018

Same author

[School bullying].

Revue medicale de Liege·2018

Same author

[Professional fatigue syndrome (burnout) : Part 2 : from therapeutic management].

Revue medicale de Liege·2017

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Published on: June 6, 2025

[Affective disorders: a pharmacological approach].

W Pitchot¹, M Ansseau

¹Service de Psychiatrie, CHU Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgique.

Revue Medicale De Liege

|January 25, 2008

Summary

Achieving remission in major depression treatment remains a challenge, with low rates impacting relapse and quality of life. Studies explored remission, socio-economic factors, and serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) to improve outcomes.

Area of Science:

Psychiatry and Mental Health
Clinical Pharmacology

Context:

Major depressive disorder (MDD) treatment aims for remission, but current rates are suboptimal.
Partial remission or non-response in MDD is linked to increased relapse risk, chronicity, and impaired quality of life.

Purpose:

To investigate key issues in major depression treatment, focusing on achieving remission.
To explore the socio-economic correlates associated with depression.
To evaluate the role of serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) in achieving remission.

Summary:

Studies conducted during 2006-2007 focused on improving remission rates in major depression.
Research examined the relationship between socio-economic factors and depression.
The efficacy of serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) in the context of depression remission was a key area of investigation.

More Related Videos

Behavioral and Network Pharmacology-Based Analyses for the Traditional Mongolian Medicine Zadi-5 in a Rat Model of Depression

Behavioral and Network Pharmacology-Based Analyses for the Traditional Mongolian Medicine Zadi-5 in a Rat Model of Depression

Published on: February 24, 2023

Behavioral Disturbances: An Innovative Approach to Monitor the Modulatory Effects of a Nutraceutical Diet

Behavioral Disturbances: An Innovative Approach to Monitor the Modulatory Effects of a Nutraceutical Diet

Published on: January 3, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Published on: June 6, 2025

Behavioral and Network Pharmacology-Based Analyses for the Traditional Mongolian Medicine Zadi-5 in a Rat Model of Depression

Behavioral and Network Pharmacology-Based Analyses for the Traditional Mongolian Medicine Zadi-5 in a Rat Model of Depression

Published on: February 24, 2023

Behavioral Disturbances: An Innovative Approach to Monitor the Modulatory Effects of a Nutraceutical Diet

Behavioral Disturbances: An Innovative Approach to Monitor the Modulatory Effects of a Nutraceutical Diet

Published on: January 3, 2017

Impact:

Findings aim to inform strategies for enhancing depression remission rates.
Understanding socio-economic correlates may guide targeted interventions.
Evaluating SNRIs contributes to optimizing pharmacotherapy for major depression.