Abstract
Depression is deeply rooted in human behavior. The development of new antidepressants demands the creation of animal models to investigate new drugs, which potentially could work as antidepressants. The aim of this review is to discuss the different ways of assessing depression in clinical research, including clinical trials, and the different animal behavioral tests used to study depression and test the efficacy of antidepressants in pre-clinical studies.
In clinical practice, a categorical classification, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) can be used for diagnosis, through the use of structured and semi-structured interviews. On the other hand, depression can also be assessed using a dimensional approach, through self- or clinicianrated questionnaires.
Regarding the assessment of the efficacy of antidepressants in animal models, several tests are routinely used, namely the Forced Swim Test, the Modified Forced Swim Test, the Tail Suspension Test and the Sucrose Preference Test. These tests are informative, providing that the following rules are taken into account: 1) more than one test is used, with coherent results; 2) secondary drug effects, the most frequent being putative changes in motor activity, are taken into account and properly controlled with specific tests run concomitantly; 3) each test and specific protocol is validated with data from at least a gold standard antidepressant drug. We herein briefly discuss the potential and limitations of each of those tests.
Keywords: Depression assessment, Antidepressants, Animal models, Screening tests, Behavioral pharmacology, Forced swim test, Tail suspension test, Sucrose preference test.
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry
Title:Depression Assessment in Clinical Trials and Pre-clinical Tests: A Critical Review
Volume: 18 Issue: 19
Author(s): Miguel F. Ferreira, Lígia Castanheira, Ana M. Sebastião and Diogo Telles-Correia*
Affiliation:
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte, Lisboa,Portugal
Keywords: Depression assessment, Antidepressants, Animal models, Screening tests, Behavioral pharmacology, Forced swim test, Tail suspension test, Sucrose preference test.
Abstract: Depression is deeply rooted in human behavior. The development of new antidepressants demands the creation of animal models to investigate new drugs, which potentially could work as antidepressants. The aim of this review is to discuss the different ways of assessing depression in clinical research, including clinical trials, and the different animal behavioral tests used to study depression and test the efficacy of antidepressants in pre-clinical studies.
In clinical practice, a categorical classification, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) can be used for diagnosis, through the use of structured and semi-structured interviews. On the other hand, depression can also be assessed using a dimensional approach, through self- or clinicianrated questionnaires.
Regarding the assessment of the efficacy of antidepressants in animal models, several tests are routinely used, namely the Forced Swim Test, the Modified Forced Swim Test, the Tail Suspension Test and the Sucrose Preference Test. These tests are informative, providing that the following rules are taken into account: 1) more than one test is used, with coherent results; 2) secondary drug effects, the most frequent being putative changes in motor activity, are taken into account and properly controlled with specific tests run concomitantly; 3) each test and specific protocol is validated with data from at least a gold standard antidepressant drug. We herein briefly discuss the potential and limitations of each of those tests.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Ferreira F. Miguel, Castanheira Lígia , Sebastião M. Ana and Telles-Correia Diogo *, Depression Assessment in Clinical Trials and Pre-clinical Tests: A Critical Review, Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry 2018; 18 (19) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1568026618666181115095920
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1568026618666181115095920 |
Print ISSN 1568-0266 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4294 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
AlphaFold in Medicinal Chemistry: Opportunities and Challenges
AlphaFold, a groundbreaking AI tool for protein structure prediction, is revolutionizing drug discovery. Its near-atomic accuracy unlocks new avenues for designing targeted drugs and performing efficient virtual screening. However, AlphaFold's static predictions lack the dynamic nature of proteins, crucial for understanding drug action. This is especially true for multi-domain proteins, ...read more
Artificial intelligence for Natural Products Discovery and Development
Our approach involves using computational methods to predict the potential therapeutic benefits of natural products by considering factors such as drug structure, targets, and interactions. We also employ multitarget analysis to understand the role of drug targets in disease pathways. We advocate for the use of artificial intelligence in predicting ...read more
Chemistry Based on Natural Products for Therapeutic Purposes
The development of new pharmaceuticals for a wide range of medical conditions has long relied on the identification of promising natural products (NPs). There are over sixty percent of cancer, infectious illness, and CNS disease medications that include an NP pharmacophore, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Since NP ...read more
Current Trends in Drug Discovery Based on Artificial Intelligence and Computer-Aided Drug Design
Drug development discovery has faced several challenges over the years. In fact, the evolution of classical approaches to modern methods using computational methods, or Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD), has shown promising and essential results in any drug discovery campaign. Among these methods, molecular docking is one of the most notable ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Hazelnut Modulates Neurobehaviour and Ameliorates Ageing-induced Oxidative
Stress, and Caspase-3-Mediated Apoptosis in Mice
Current Aging Science Vascular Dementia: Atherosclerosis, Cognition and Alzheimers Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Cytokine and Immune System Abnormalities in Fibromyalgia and Other Central Sensitivity Syndromes
Current Rheumatology Reviews Action Mechanism of Antihistamines and the New Antihistamines
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents The Impact of CRISPR/Cas9-Based Genomic Engineering on Biomedical Research and Medicine
Current Molecular Medicine Pharmacotherapy for Late-Life Depression with Psychotic Features: A Review of Literature of Randomized Control Trials
Current Psychiatry Reviews Non-Pharmacological Treatments for ADHD in Youth
Adolescent Psychiatry MicroRNA Polymorphisms, MicroRNA Pharmacogenomics and Cancer Susceptibility
Current Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine Neurochemical Markers in the Mammalian Brain: Structure, Roles in Synaptic Communication, and Pharmacological Relevance
Current Medicinal Chemistry Chronic Low Back Pain: Current Pharmacotherapeutic Therapies and a New Biological Approach
Current Medicinal Chemistry Inferring Alcoholism SNPs and Regulatory Chemical Compounds Based on Ensemble Bayesian Network
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Calpains: Potential Targets for Alternative Chemotherapeutic Intervention Against Human Pathogenic Trypanosomatids
Current Medicinal Chemistry AUTHOR INDEX
Current Neuropharmacology Gemcitabine Interacts with Carbonate Apatite with Concomitant Reduction in Particle Diameter and Enhancement of Cytotoxicity in Breast Cancer Cells
Current Drug Delivery Some Important Dietary Polyphenolic Compounds: An Anti-inflammatory and Immunoregulatory Perspective
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Pregnancy and Metabolic Syndrome: A Review
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Stability of Ketoprofen Methylester in Plasma of Different Species
Current Drug Metabolism Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease: Is there Any Link?
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Special Invited Article Concussion, Sports and Psychiatry
Adolescent Psychiatry Natural Products as Sources of New Lead Compounds for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry