Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs01:28

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), including Desipramine (Norpramin), Imipramine (Tofranil), Clomipramine (Anafranil), and Amitriptyline (Elavil), inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and also block other receptors. They are used for depression, pain conditions, and insomnia. Common adverse effects include anticholinergic effects, sedation, orthostatic hypotension, and weight gain. They have a narrow therapeutic window and so require plasma-level monitoring. Abrupt discontinuation can...
Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents01:23

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: Overview01:25

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...
G-protein Coupled Receptors01:21

G-protein Coupled Receptors

G-protein coupled receptors are ligand binding receptors that indirectly affect changes in the cell. The actual receptor is a single polypeptide that transverses the cell membrane seven times creating intracellular and extracellular loops. The extracellular loops create a ligand specific pocket which binds to neurotransmitters or hormones. The intracellular loops holds onto the G-protein.
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists01:23

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists

Serotonin, a crucial neurotransmitter synthesized by enterochromaffin cells, plays a cardinal role in regulating gastrointestinal (GI) motility. With over 90% of the body's total serotonin in the GI tract, its influence on digestive processes is profound. Serotonin is swiftly released upon various stimuli, such as food boluses or certain drugs, triggering intrinsic sensory neurons in the myenteric plexus and extrinsic vagal and spinal sensory neurons. This leads to the activation of the...
Depression: Overview01:18

Depression: Overview

Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Stick or twist? Cost-effectiveness of siponimod compared with continuing existing disease-modifying therapies in the treatment of active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis in the UK.

Journal of medical economics·2022
Same author

Mind and body exercises (MBE), prescribed antidepressant medication, physical exercise and depressive symptoms - a longitudinal study.

Journal of affective disorders·2020
Same author

Association of major California freight railyards with asthma-related pediatric emergency department hospital visits.

Preventive medicine reports·2018
Same author

Atopic dermatitis, educational attainment and psychological functioning: a national cohort study.

The British journal of dermatology·2018
Same author

Clinical factors predicting treatment resistant depression: affirmative results from the European multicenter study.

Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica·2018
Same author

Dietary Patterns and Retinal Vessel Caliber in the Irish Nun Eye Study.

The journal of nutrition, health & aging·2018
Same journal

Effects of antidepressants, anesthetics and sedatives/hypnotics on sleep-associated memory consolidation - A systematic review.

Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)·2026
Same journal

Mental resilience is not meaningfully associated with the frequency and severity of alcohol hangover.

Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)·2026
Same journal

Psilocybin reduces fear memory and restores neuroplasticity in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex.

Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)·2026
Same journal

Classical psychedelic microdosing, mood, and cognitive function: An umbrella review with narrative synthesis.

Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)·2026
Same journal

The purpose of the psychosocial protocol in the psychedelic-assisted therapy: A scoping review.

Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)·2026
Same journal

Mitochondrial dysfunction in schizophrenia and its modulation by atypical antipsychotic drugs: A randomized controlled trial.

Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

Thermostabilization, Expression, Purification, and Crystallization of the Human Serotonin Transporter Bound to S-citalopram
12:21

Thermostabilization, Expression, Purification, and Crystallization of the Human Serotonin Transporter Bound to S-citalopram

Published on: November 27, 2016

Serotonin, sertraline and depression.

S Montgomery1

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, St Mary's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.

Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
|February 3, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sertraline, a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI), effectively treats major depressive episodes. It shows superior efficacy to placebo and imipramine, comparable to other SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and is indicated for long-term depression prevention.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 25, 2026

Thermostabilization, Expression, Purification, and Crystallization of the Human Serotonin Transporter Bound to S-citalopram
12:21

Thermostabilization, Expression, Purification, and Crystallization of the Human Serotonin Transporter Bound to S-citalopram

Published on: November 27, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Major depressive disorder is a significant global health concern.
  • Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a primary pharmacotherapy for depression.
  • Established antidepressants include tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and SSRIs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of sertraline in treating major depressive episodes.
  • To compare sertraline's effectiveness against placebo, imipramine, and other TCAs.
  • To assess sertraline's role in the long-term management and prevention of depression.

Main Methods:

  • Review of large placebo-controlled studies in patients with moderate to severe major depressive episodes.
  • Analysis of double-blind parallel group studies comparing sertraline with fluoxetine.
  • Examination of fixed-dose studies assessing sertraline's efficacy and tolerability.

Main Results:

  • Sertraline demonstrated significant antidepressant efficacy compared to placebo and imipramine.
  • Efficacy was comparable to reference TCAs (amitriptyline, clomipramine, dothiepin) and fluoxetine.
  • Sertraline showed efficacy in long-term maintenance and prophylaxis, with optimal tolerability at 50 mg.

Conclusions:

  • Sertraline is a highly selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) with established efficacy in depression.
  • Its safety and tolerability profile is superior to TCAs, supporting its use as a first-line treatment.
  • Sertraline is indicated for acute, recurrent, and maintenance treatment of depression.