5-HT and depression: is the glass half-full?

Journal article

Mood disorders such as major depression are common illnesses with considerable morbidity and significant mortality. A long-standing theory is that a breakdown in brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) signalling is critically involved in the symptoms and drug treatment of clinical depression. However, the nature of this 5-HT defect has proved to be frustratingly elusive, and it remains unclear how the 5-HT signalling effects of antidepressant drugs might alter neuropsychological mechanisms to bring about relief of depressed mood. This article highlights recent discoveries that advance our understanding of how 5-HT-evoked changes at molecular, cellular and neuropsychological levels might interact to alleviate the symptoms of clinical depression.

Authors: Sharp, T; Cowen, P

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Current opinion in pharmacology
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 45-51
• Publication date: 2011-02-01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2011.02.003
• EISSN: 1471-4973
• ISSN: 1471-4892
• Language: English
• Keywords: Humans; Animals; Serotonin; Signal Transduction; Depression; Antidepressive Agents; Brain