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Related Concept Videos

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents01:23

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

173
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...
173
Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs01:28

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

257
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...
257
Antidepressant Drugs: Overview01:25

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

341
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...
341
Depression: Overview01:18

Depression: Overview

204
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,...
204
Drug Therapy01:28

Drug Therapy

32
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
32
Depressive Disorders: Etiology01:27

Depressive Disorders: Etiology

26
Depressive disorders result from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors, each contributing uniquely to the development and persistence of the condition. Understanding these factors provides critical insight into the multifaceted nature of depression.
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2025

A Chronic Immobilization Stress Protocol for Inducing Depression-Like Behavior in Mice
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Could antidepressants increase mood and immunity at the same time?

Francis Lavergne1, Therese M Jay1

  • 1Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, Pathophysiology of Psychiatric Disorders, Paris, France.

Frontiers in Psychiatry
|March 27, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Antidepressants offer benefits beyond mood, enhancing cellular resilience and host resistance. They inhibit acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), reducing ceramide production for improved cell survival and cytoprotection.

Keywords:
acid sphingomyelinase enzymeantidepressantdoxepinefluoxetineimmunityinfectionstress amitriptyline

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Last Updated: May 20, 2025

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Antidepressants are primarily known for mood regulation.
  • Their cellular mechanisms, particularly trophic effects promoting neurogenesis and synaptic connectivity, are less understood.
  • The monoamine hypothesis doesn't fully explain these cellular actions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review scientific literature on the broader applications and cellular mechanisms of antidepressants.
  • To explore the role of the acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) pathway in antidepressant action.
  • To highlight antidepressants' potential in enhancing host resistance beyond mood disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific studies on antidepressant mechanisms and effects.
  • Analysis of cellular and molecular actions of antidepressants.
  • Examination of research on host resistance and immune modulation by antidepressants.

Main Results:

  • Antidepressants promote neurogenesis, synaptic connectivity, cell survival, and stem cell proliferation.
  • The acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) theory provides a cellular explanation: inhibition of ASM reduces ceramide, promoting cell survival and cytoprotection.
  • Antidepressants enhance host resistance to infections, immunological challenges, stress, and depression.

Conclusions:

  • Antidepressants possess trophic properties that enhance cell survival and resilience.
  • Inhibition of the ASM pathway is a key cellular mechanism underlying antidepressant efficacy.
  • Antidepressants show potential as adjunctive therapies to bolster host resistance against various stressors, including infections and aging.