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
-
Silybin and Silymarin - New and Emerging Applications in Medicine
Current Medicinal Chemistry Understanding Effects of Psychological Stress on Physiology and Disease Through Human Stressome - An Integral Algorithm
Current Bioinformatics Formulation and Characterization of a Ternary Inclusion Complex Containing Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and Meglumine for Solubility Enhancement of Poorly Water-Soluble ST-246, an Anti-Smallpox Drug
Current Drug Delivery Multiple Roles for Chemokines in the Pathogenesis of SIV Infection
Current HIV Research ABC Transporters in Neurological Disorders: An Important Gateway for Botanical Compounds Mediated Neuro-Therapeutics
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Isoform-Selective PI3K Inhibitors for Various Diseases
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry NS3 Helicases as Drug Targets
Current Chemical Biology Recombinant Rhabdoviruses as Potential Vaccines for HIV-1 and Other Diseases
Current HIV Research Place of Nanofiltration for Assuring Viral Safety of Biologicals
Current Nanoscience Recent Patents on Epilepsy Genetics
Recent Patents on DNA & Gene Sequences Structure, Biological Properties and Applications of Marine-derived Polysaccharides
Current Organic Chemistry Brain Inflammation, Cholesterol, and Glutamate as Interconnected Participants in the Pathology of Alzheimers Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design Recent Developments in Particulate-Based Vaccines
Recent Patents on Drug Delivery & Formulation Agonists of the Tissue-Protective Erythropoietin Receptor in the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry The use of Immunoglobulin Therapy in Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Inhibitions of Positive-Sense (ss) RNA Viruses RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerases
Current Enzyme Inhibition Contrasting Roles of the Galectin-3 in the Schizophrenia Onset, Clinical Presentation, and Somatic Comorbidity
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry RNA Interference-Based Therapeutics: New Strategies to Fight Infectious Disease
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Perspectives in Genomics The Future of Fungi in ‘omics’ era
Current Genomics Non-Replicating Viral Vector-Based AIDS Vaccines: Interplay Between Viral Vectors and the Immune System
Current HIV Research