RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The therapeutic role of 5-HT<sub>1A</sub> and 5-HT<sub>2A</sub> receptors in depression
JF Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
JO JPN
FD Canadian Medical Association
SP 252
OP 265
VO 29
IS 4
A1 Pau Celada
A1 M. Victoria Puig
A1 Mercè Amargós-Bosch
A1 Albert Adell
A1 Francesc Artigas
YR 2004
UL http://jpn.ca/content/29/4/252.abstract
AB The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most frequently prescribed antidepressant drugs, because they are well tolerated and have no severe side effects. They rapidly block serotonin (5-HT) reuptake, yet the onset of their therapeutic action requires weeks of treatment. This delay is the result of presynaptic and postsynaptic adaptive mechanisms secondary to reuptake inhibition. The prevention of a negative feedback mechanism operating at the 5-HT autoreceptor level enhances the neurochemical and clinical effects of SSRIs. The blockade of 5-HT2A receptors also seems to improve the clinical effects of SSRIs. These receptors are located postsynaptically to 5-HT axons, mainly in the neocortex. Pyramidal neurons in the prefrontal cortex are particularly enriched in 5-HT2A receptors. Their blockade may affect the function of prefrontal–subcortical circuits, an effect that probably underlies the beneficial effects of the addition of atypical antipsychotic drugs, which are 5-HT2A receptor antagonists, to SSRIs in treatment-resistant patients.