application - biological treatments

• antidepressant drugs

  *generally work by raising levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in brain

  *3 types: MAOIs, SSRIs, NRIs

  *new types tend to work on one monoamine only
• monoamines oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)


  prevent the breakdown of serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine, so that levels of all 3 monoamines build up
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

  (eg prozac, seroxat) stop serotonin being reabsorbed and broken down after it has crossed a synapse
• noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (NRIs)

  same as SSRIs but for noradrenaline
• tricyclics (old antidepressants)

  prevent serotonin and noradrenaline being reabsorbed after they have crossed a synapse, increasing their levels. although these are effective in reducing symptoms, they can have serious side effects (eg drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation)
• antidepressant more info

  A number of different antidepressants have to be available because individual patients vary in how they respond to each drug (in terms of effects on symptoms and side effects). Different types of antidepressants are prescribed in different circumstances. Gender in relation to antidepressants: Women suffer more side effects than men from tricyclic antidepressants, and they tend to tolerate MAOIs well, but they're highly toxic so may not be appropriate for patients at a high risk of suicide
• electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

  involves administering an electric shock for a fraction of a second to the head, inducing a seizure similar to that experienced in epilepsy. The seizure generally lasts between 15 and 60 seconds and is usually bilateral (given to both sides of the head - considered to be more effective than unilateral, but more likely to lead to side effects). typical course of treatment lasts for 2 to 3 weeks, with ECT being repeated between 6 and 12 times in total. ECT is a controversial treatment. Modern ECT involves small shocks given for short periods (typically 800 milliamps for a fraction of a second), under anaesthetic and using drugs such as succinylcholine to paralyse muscles
• ECT early use

  shock was relatively large and given without anaesthetic or muscle relaxants - the fits sometimes resulted in broken bones and occasionally burns to the brain.
• how does ECT work

  thought to work by the electrical current changing the activity of neurotransmitters OR increases blood flow in various areas of the brain.