Affective disorders are a group of psychiatric
diseases that can affect an individual at any given age. Also called mood
disorders, they can be distinguished into two different types: major depressive
disorder, also called major depression, and bipolar disorder, which is known as
manic depression. People affected by major depression most often have a low
mood, and are consistently in a state of unhappiness. Although it was shown
that genetics play a role in the predisposition of depression, this disease
most often occurs in response to a variety of external factors such as a stressful
life event, the loss of a loved one, and following drug or substance abuse. A
variety of antidepressant drugs, such as the monoamine oxidase inhibitors
(MAOIs), the tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and the second-generation
antidepressants are able to provide significant relief for people suffering
from affective disorders like depression. However, several
of these pharma- ceutical agents can cause
serious side effects to the patients. Therefore, there is a need to identify novel antidepressant therapies
that are more efficient and that present minimal side effects. A better
understanding of the neurobiology of depression will definitively help scientists
develop new therapeutic ideas. This paper will first discuss the clinical
profile of depression and explain the physiological mechanisms and the
neurochemistry involved in this disease. It will then give you an overview of
the effectiveness of the most common antidepressants used, with a description
of their mode of action and most notable side effects.
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