Does Serotonin Help Moods?

In the treatment of depression, SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or SNRIs (selective norepinephine reuptake inhibitors) have become mainstrays in pharmaceutical treatment for many patients. Scientists are now asking two questions – do they work, and do they work the way everyone assumes they work?

Anxiety Insights has an interesting look at some research being performed at universities in Oxford and Belfast that questions the common belief that low serotonin levels are behind depression, and instead posit that serotonin therapies affect emotional processing.

In a recent randomized double-blind study, 42 healthy men and women who did not is have depression were given antidepressants (SSRIs or SNRIs), or a placebo for seven days. After a few days of treatment with SSRIs, they became more positive in their emotional outlook based on performance on tasks of emotional processing. These positive biases in emotional processing were independent of their reported mood.

“The drugs work quickly to change how people experience the world emotionally. We believe this is due to the effect of the drugs on emotional processing, rather than directly altering mood. Remembering and experiencing events in a more positive light helps to lift a person out of their depression,” he said. This mechanism of the action of antidepressants is compatible with cognitive behavior therapy suggesting that this dual approach will be helpful for people with depression.

Add to this research into genetic indicators that may shed some light into which patients might benefit from treatment and which might be prone to certain side effects, like weight gain, and it’s clear that while much is known about serotonin, there are many mysteries yet to be solved.

Rethinking Serotonin , via Anxiety Insights