Abstract
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are effective in the treatment of depression and a range of anxiety disorders [1,2]. Preclinical models have been relatively successful at elucidating the key neurochemical effects of these serotonergic agents; however, a lack of understanding exists of the functional mechanisms by which these drugs exert their effects on mood and anxiety. Elucidating the link between the neurochemical effects of these drugs and their therapeutic action is an essential step in further understanding some of the current limitations of SSRIs, and in developing novel agents that are more selectively designed to target the symptoms they treat. An increasingly popular experimental method within psychopharmacological research is the use of functional neuroimaging techniques to investigate the pharmacological modulation of task-induced brain activity by psychoactive drugs. Such an approach offers an exciting opportunity to investigate the mechanisms of drug action and, in this way, bridge the gap between preclinical and clinical studies. Applying this approach to the study of SSRIs has highlighted that direct modulation of activity in neural areas involved in emotional processing may represent a key functional mechanism through which these agents exert their antidepressant clinical effects. This review summarises the cognitive and neuroimaging evidence suggesting the critical role that disruptions in emotion-related processing play in depression and anxiety disorders. It then examines the functional neuroimaging evidence, from both patient and healthy volunteer studies, to suggest that the amelioration of such disruptions is a key mechanism through which SSRIs exert their therapeutic effects.
Keywords: Functional neuroimaging, SSRI, amygdala, emotional processing, depression, anxiety, healthy volunteer models
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Using Functional Neuroimaging to Investigate the Mechanisms of Action of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
Volume: 16 Issue: 18
Author(s): Susannah E. Murphy
Affiliation:
Keywords: Functional neuroimaging, SSRI, amygdala, emotional processing, depression, anxiety, healthy volunteer models
Abstract: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are effective in the treatment of depression and a range of anxiety disorders [1,2]. Preclinical models have been relatively successful at elucidating the key neurochemical effects of these serotonergic agents; however, a lack of understanding exists of the functional mechanisms by which these drugs exert their effects on mood and anxiety. Elucidating the link between the neurochemical effects of these drugs and their therapeutic action is an essential step in further understanding some of the current limitations of SSRIs, and in developing novel agents that are more selectively designed to target the symptoms they treat. An increasingly popular experimental method within psychopharmacological research is the use of functional neuroimaging techniques to investigate the pharmacological modulation of task-induced brain activity by psychoactive drugs. Such an approach offers an exciting opportunity to investigate the mechanisms of drug action and, in this way, bridge the gap between preclinical and clinical studies. Applying this approach to the study of SSRIs has highlighted that direct modulation of activity in neural areas involved in emotional processing may represent a key functional mechanism through which these agents exert their antidepressant clinical effects. This review summarises the cognitive and neuroimaging evidence suggesting the critical role that disruptions in emotion-related processing play in depression and anxiety disorders. It then examines the functional neuroimaging evidence, from both patient and healthy volunteer studies, to suggest that the amelioration of such disruptions is a key mechanism through which SSRIs exert their therapeutic effects.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
E. Murphy Susannah, Using Functional Neuroimaging to Investigate the Mechanisms of Action of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Current Pharmaceutical Design 2010; 16 (18) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161210791293051
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161210791293051 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...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
-
Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis: Efficacy of Treatment for Male Patients and miRNA Biomarker
Current Medicinal Chemistry Microbiota Regulation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Targeting Strategies in Therapeutic Applications of Toxoplasmosis: Recent Advances in Liposomal Vaccine Delivery Systems
Current Drug Targets LRP/LR as an Alternative Promising Target in Therapy of Prion Diseases, Alzheimers Disease and Cancer
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets DNA Microarrays - An Armory for Combating Infectious Diseases in the New Century
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Alzheimer's Disease Patients Control CCL4 and CXCL10 Levels in a Human Blood Brain Barrier Model
Current Alzheimer Research Astrocytes and Inflammasome: A Possible Crosstalk in Neurological Diseases
Current Medicinal Chemistry Commentary: Functional Neuronal CB2 Cannabinoid Receptors in the CNS
Current Neuropharmacology Assessing Activation States in Microglia
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Inactivated- or Killed-Virus HIV/AIDS Vaccines
Current Drug Targets - Infectious Disorders Virus Vasculopathy and Stroke: An Under-Recognized Cause and Treatment Target
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets The Drug Targets and Antiviral Molecules for Treatment of Ebola Virus Infection
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Immunobiology of Herpes Simplex Virus and Cytomegalovirus Infections of the Fetus and Newborn
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Therapeutic Options in Prevention and Treatment of Aspartoacylase Gene Mutation Resulting Abnormalities in Canavan Disease
Current Pharmacogenomics Nose-to-Brain Drug Delivery by Nanoparticles in the Treatment of Neurological Disorders
Current Medicinal Chemistry Updating the Chemistry and Biology of Cannabinoid CB2 Receptor – Specific Inverse Agonists
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Antiviral Marine Natural Products
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Infective Agents Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells as a Model for Therapy Personalization of Pediatric Patients: Disease Modeling and Drug Adverse Effects Prevention
Current Medicinal Chemistry Brain Injury Associated with Widely Abused Amphetamines: Neuroinflammation, Neurogenesis and Blood-Brain Barrier
Current Drug Abuse Reviews HIV-1-Associated Dementia During HAART Therapy
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued)