Neurotransmitter receptor hypothesis of depression

Depletion of monoamine neurotransmitters (cf. Fig. 5—60 and Fig. 5—61) has already been discussed as the central theme of the monoamine hypothesis of depression (see Figs. 5—13 and 5—14). The neurotransmitter receptor hypothesis of depression takes this theme one step further—namely, that the depletion of neurotransmitter causes compensatory up regulation of postsynaptic neurotransmitter receptors (Fig. 5—62). 

One theory to explain the ultimate mechanism of delayed therapeutic action of antidepressants is the neurotransmitter receptor hypothesis of antidepressant action (Figs. 6—1 through 6—6). This is a hypothesis related to the neurotransmitter receptor hypothesis of depression discussed in Chapter 5 (Figs. 5—60 through 5—62). As previously discussed, this latter hypothesis proposes that depression itself is linked to abnormal functioning of neurotransmitter receptors. 

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