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: MAOIs and Other Agents01:23

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

1.3K
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...
1.3K
Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs01:28

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

2.3K
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...
2.3K
Antidepressant Drugs: Overview01:25

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

2.2K
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...
2.2K
Drug Therapy01:28

Drug Therapy

418
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
418
Depression: Overview01:18

Depression: Overview

1.2K
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,...
1.2K
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

1.4K
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
1.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Exploring fatigue in clinically depressed adolescents: a secondary analysis of the IMPACT study sample.

BMC psychology·2026
Same author

Dynamics of depression symptoms in adolescents during three types of psychotherapy and post-treatment follow-up.

Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines·2025
Same author

Author Correction: The impact of the initial COVID-19 outbreak on young adults' mental health: a longitudinal study of risk and resilience factors.

Scientific reports·2025
Same author

Predicting criminal offence in adolescents who exhibit antisocial behaviour: a machine learning study using data from a large randomised controlled trial of multisystemic therapy.

European child & adolescent psychiatry·2024
Same author

Early adolescent perceived friendship quality aids affective and neural responses to social inclusion and exclusion in young adults with and without adverse childhood experiences.

Social cognitive and affective neuroscience·2024
Same author

Self-reported childhood family adversity is linked to an attenuated gain of trust during adolescence.

Nature communications·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Author Spotlight: Understanding Adolescent Social Adversity Effects on Neurodevelopment in Mice
07:15

Author Spotlight: Understanding Adolescent Social Adversity Effects on Neurodevelopment in Mice

Published on: March 15, 2024

3.0K

Antidepressants and the adolescent brain.

Lesley Cousins1, Ian M Goodyer2

  • 1Developmental Psychiatry Section, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.

Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
|March 7, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are crucial for treating adolescent depression. Current evidence suggests SSRIs do not pose significant developmental risks to the adolescent brain, and concerns about increased suicidal side effects are not definitively supported.

Keywords:
DepressionSSRIsadolescenceantidepressantschild and adolescent mental healthfluoxetineteenage brain

More Related Videos

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model
08:15

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

Published on: June 6, 2025

744
Behavioral and Network Pharmacology-Based Analyses for the Traditional Mongolian Medicine Zadi-5 in a Rat Model of Depression
07:58

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

Published on: February 24, 2023

1.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Author Spotlight: Understanding Adolescent Social Adversity Effects on Neurodevelopment in Mice
07:15

Author Spotlight: Understanding Adolescent Social Adversity Effects on Neurodevelopment in Mice

Published on: March 15, 2024

3.0K
Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model
08:15

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

Published on: June 6, 2025

744
Behavioral and Network Pharmacology-Based Analyses for the Traditional Mongolian Medicine Zadi-5 in a Rat Model of Depression
07:58

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

Published on: February 24, 2023

1.0K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Adolescent depression presents significant long-term risks, including suicide and impaired adult functioning.
  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a primary treatment for adolescent depression, despite past safety concerns.
  • The effects of SSRIs on the developing adolescent brain remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of adolescent brain development and its potential alteration by depression.
  • To examine the mechanisms of SSRI action and their differential effects in adolescents versus adults.
  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of SSRIs in treating adolescent depression.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on adolescent brain development.
  • Analysis of research on SSRI pharmacology and neurobiological effects.
  • Synthesis of clinical trial data and observational studies on SSRI treatment in adolescents.

Main Results:

  • Limited evidence suggests SSRIs do not pose significant developmental risks to the adolescent brain.
  • No clear evidence supports concerns of increased suicidal side effects in adolescents treated with SSRIs.
  • While not irrefutable, concerns regarding SSRI adverse effects warrant careful clinical judgment.

Conclusions:

  • SSRI treatment for moderate to severe adolescent depression offers clinical benefits that outweigh potential neurodevelopmental risks.
  • Prescribing SSRIs requires a careful balance of benefits versus risks for individual patients.
  • SSRIs remain a vital therapeutic option for adolescent depression, necessitating ongoing monitoring and individualized care.