Antidepressant drugs antidepressants mood stabilizers

In this chapter, we have discussed the mechanisms of action of several of the newer classes of antidepressant drugs and mood stabilizers. The acute pharmacological actions of these agents on neurotransmitter receptors have been described. The reader should now understand the proposed mechanisms of action of dual reuptake inhibitors, alpha 2 antagonists, and serotonin 2A antagonists/serotonin reuptake inhibitors, as well as those of lithium and the anticonvulsant mood stabilizers for the treatment of bipolar disorder, particularly the acute manic phase. 

The NE system mediates various autonomic, neuroendocrine, emotional and cognitive functions. One of the central roles of NE is response to stress and aversion. This role can be summarized as an activation of response to the acute stress and aversion, followed by decreased reaction to repeated or chronic aversion. Since the response to stress and aversion is a basic part in pathology of mood disorder, NE should play an important role in anxiety, depression and mania. Indeed, this role has been demonstrated in numerous animal and human studies. Majority of antidepressant drugs and mood stabilizers affect NE system as their direct or indirect target. Various medications have different effects on NE neuronal activity. The majority of antidepressants, Li and benzodiazepines suppress NE transmission. Other medications, such as AADs, activate NE neuronal firing activity and NE release. Appropriate combination of different medications, based on the consideration of their effect on NE system, might be critical to obtain good treatment outcome. The combination of SSRIs... 

Prescribing of psychotropic drugs, such as antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics and mood stabilizers, is common in psychiatric inpatients for acute and maintenance treatment of psychiatric illness. 

Psychotropic effect is the main effect, with the desired action Psvchopharmaceuticals Antipsychotics Antidepressants Mood stabilizers Anxiolytics, hypnotics Psychostimulants Nootropics, antidementia drugs Social drugs , drugs Alcohol Nicotine Cocaine, heroin, etc. 

The following sections of this chapter concentrate on psychopharmaceuticals in the sense of Table 1.1, Le. antipsychotics. antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics and psychostimulants attention also will be paid to hypnotics and antidementia drugs. 

Problems of optimal dosage and duration of drug treatment for mental disorders have also been addressed in numerous controlled studies and are presented separately below for antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics and psychostimulants. This division again makes sense because the disorders treated and the therapeutic approaches used differ in significant aspects and the empirical studies carried out in the individual indications show major qualitative and quantitative differences. 

---