psychology : biological treatment for depression

how do anti depressants work

by influencing the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain

what are the 2 types of anti depressants

• MAOI’s (old-fashioned)

• SSRI’s (currently used)

MAOI stands for …

monoamine oxidase inhibitors

how do MAOI’s work

• by preventing the break down of serotonin, nor adrenaline and dopamine so that levels of all three can build up

• also work by preventing serotonin and noradrenaline being reabsorbed after they’ve crossed the synapse, again increasing their levels

side effects of MAOI’s

• drowsiness

• dry mouth

• constipation

what does SSRI stand for

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

examples of types of SSRI’s

• fluoxetine (prozac)

• seroxat

• sertraline

how do SSRI’s work

by stopping serotonin from being reabsorbed and broken down after it has crossed a synapse, therefore building up levels of serotonin in the brain

strengths of anti depressants

• non-evasive

• easy to administer

• readily available

• reduce symptoms in a few weeks

• little side effects (for most people)

• around 60% of people respond by about 2 months with a 50% reduction in their symptoms

weaknesses of anti depressants

• difficult to find the right anti depressant that works for you

• can be negative side effects such as a change in appetite or insomnia

• may not treat the root cause of depression

• takes 2 weeks before any beneficial effect, but this is still most likely faster than therapy