Antidepressants Flashcards
What is the prevalence of depression?
5%
- it is the most common psychiatric disorder, and is often comorbid with other disorders
- has environmental and biological influences
Which NTs do antidepressants target?
Serotonin and norepinephrine
What is a placebo in terms of pharmacological research?
A sugar pill
What is a placebo in terms of therapeutic research?
A therapist interaction without CBT
In research settings, what percentage of depressed patients experience an alleviation of symptoms after placebo?
30-50%
- just the belief that they are being helped can help cure
How do depression treatments differ?
In their side effects
What was the early treatment for depression?
Lobotomies and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
What are the side effects of ECT?
Retrograde and anterograde amnesia
How do tricyclics act? What is one example of a tricyclic?
As nonselective monoamine reuptake inhibitors
- ex. amitryptyline
What are the major side effects of tricyclics?
- Change in sleep,
- change in eating
- sexual side effects like erectile dysfunction and failure to climax
- cardiac arhythmia
- sedation
- overdose
Which classification of generations are tricyclics?
First generation
What are the second generation of antidepressants?
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
How do MAOIs work?
Inhibition of synaptic transmission and increase of tyramine (re-listen to lecture)
What can excessive tyramine lead to?
High blood pressure and stroke
What are the two types of MAOIs?
- irreversible (was an earlier treatment)
2. reversible (current treatment)
What is an example of an MAOI?
Phenelzine
What is the third generation of antidepressants?
SSRI’s
- serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors
- most widely used because they have a wide TI
How do SSRIs work?
They target the serotonin transporter
What is one example of an SSRI and what are the most common side effects?
ex. fluoxetine (Prozac)
- side effects include nausea, sexual side effects
What is the monoamine hypothesis?
Depression is a result of a deficiency in NE, serotonin, or both
What are NSRI’s and SNRI’s?
NSRI - norepinephrine selective reuptake inhibitors
SNRI - serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
What is one example of an NSRI?
roboxetine
What is one example of a SNRI?
duloxetine
What is the action of wellbutrin?
is a NET and DAT inhibitor, which increases impulsive behaviours
What is one revolutionary treatment for depression?
Ketamine (which is an NMDA channel blocker)
