Drug therapy for depression

• What are antidepressants used to treat?

  Moderate or severe depression
• How do antidepressants affect neurotransmitters?

  They raise levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin and noradrenaline
• What are the four types of antidepressants?

  SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, and TCAs
• What is the primary function of SSRIs?

  To block the reuptake of serotonin
• Which type of antidepressant is the most commonly prescribed?

  SSRIs
• What do SNRIs block?

  The reuptake of serotonin and noradrenaline
• What is the role of MAOIs in antidepressant therapy?

  They prevent enzymes from breaking down serotonin and noradrenaline
• How do TCAs function in treating depression?

  They amplify the effect of serotonin and noradrenaline by preventing reabsorption
• What are the strengths of antidepressants?

  • Improve patient symptoms
  • Facilitate access to psychological therapies
  • Enhance mood for better treatment outcomes
  • Research support shows 50-65% improvement in patients
• What are the weaknesses of antidepressants?

  • Unpleasant side effects (drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, disturbed sleep)
  • Decreased quality of life
  • Do not treat the disorder, only improve symptoms
  • Long-term treatment outcomes may worsen, increasing relapse risk
• What percentage of patients with moderate to severe depression show improvements with antidepressants according to The Royal College of Psychiatrists?

  50-65%
• What do Joanna Mancrieff and Irving Kirsch argue about antidepressants?

  They argue that antidepressants worsen long-term treatment outcomes
• How do the effects of antidepressants compare to placebo treatments?

  Antidepressants show a higher improvement rate than placebo treatments