Drug Therapy as a Treatment for Depression Flashcards
1
Q
What is drug therapy?
A
Offered to those with persistent moderate to severe depression
Uses antidepressants, which increases amount of neurotransmitters, that play roles in controlling mood, to make their effect last longer.
2
Q
What are SSRIs, and what do they do?
A
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (most commonly prescribed)
- Block reuptake of serotonin, which makes it available for longer and allows more opportunity for other neurons to absorb it. should help to increase levels of serotonin in the brain, therefore improving mood.
3
Q
What are SNRIs, and what do they do?
A
- Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors.
- Block reuptake of serotonin and noradrenaline, making them available for longer to allow other neurons to absorb them and enhances their effect on the brain, therefore improving mood.
4
Q
What MAOIs, and what do they do?
A
- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors.
- Prevents enzyme, monoamine oxidase, from breaking down serotonin and noradrenaline that have not been absorbed by post-synaptic neuron or reabsorbed by pre-synaptic neuron, which makes more of themavailable to be absorbed by other neurons.
5
Q
What are TCAs, and what do they do?
A
- Tricyclics (been used to treat depression since the 1950s)
- Prevents reabsorption of serotonin and noradrenaline in the pre-synaptic neuron, which gives them more time to act on the brain so that their ‘mood-enhancing effect’ lasts longer
6
Q
Give two strengths of drug therapy as a treatment for depression.
A
- Research evidence suggests it’s effective.
- Royal College of Psychiatrists:- 65% of patients with moderate to severe depression showed improvements after using antidepressants, compared to 30% of patients who were given a placebo.
- Can improve a patient’s symptoms enough to work with other therapies.
- Drugs can improve one’s mood, which should improve their motivation too, making them more likely to benefit from other types of therapy i.e CBT.
