BACKGROUND Vilazodone is the latest approved antidepressant available in the United States. Its dual mechanism of action combines the inhibition of serotonin transporters while simultaneously partially agonizing serotonin-1a (5-HT1A) receptors. This combined activity results in serotonin facilitation across the brain's serotonergic pathways, which has been termed by the authors as that of a ser...

OBJECTIVE To investigate possible linkages between neurodevelopmental delay and neurodevelopmental spectrum disorders and exposure to medication with effects on serotonin reuptake inhibition during pregnancy. METHODS We systematically reviewed the epidemiological literature for studies bearing on this relationship in children born with neurodevelopmental spectrum disorder and related conditio...

The compulsive behaviors seen in sexual paraphilias may be related to those of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Based primarily upon case reports as well as studies indicating the effectiveness of serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the treatment of sexual paraphilias, it has been speculated that sexual paraphilias lie within the obsessive-compulsive spectrum. There have been no reports of the...

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Brain mechanisms underlying the clinical antidepressant efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), currently the first-line treatment, remain poorly understood. Recent animal studies have implicated multiple serotonin receptor subtypes in SSRI response, opening new therapeutic perspectives.

Background The antidepressant effect of physical exercise has been reported in several clinical and animal studies. Since serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine play a central role in depression, it is possible that the beneficial effects of physical exercise are mediated via monoamine pathways. This study investigates the effects of voluntary wheel running on the excitability of monoamine neu...

Because monoamine reuptake inhibitors and releasing agents both increase extracellular neurotransmitter levels, establishing in vivo experimental criteria for their classification has been difficult. Using microdialysis in the hypothalamus of unanesthetized rats, we provide evidence that serotonin- (5-HT) selective and nonselective reuptake inhibitors can be distinguished from the 5-HT-releasin...

BACKGROUND Differences in 5-HT1A receptor function have been implicated in vulnerability to depression and in response to treatment. Adding 5-HT1A partial agonists to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors has been touted as a strategy to increase their efficacy. Here we use the novelty suppressed feeding paradigm to compare the effects of vilazodone, a high-potency selective serotonin reuptak...

The cornerstone of pharmacotherapy for OCD is serotonin reuptake inhibition, either with clomipramine or with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). In spite of the success of serotonin reuptake inhibiting drugs, nearly half of OCD patients do not respond to treatment. Treatment response may be affected by genetic polymorphisms of the P450 metabolic system. The four most common enzyme...

BACKGROUND Antidepressants are one of the most commonly prescribed medications in young and middle-aged adults, but there is relatively little information on their safety across a range of adverse outcomes in this age group. This study aimed to assess associations between antidepressant treatment and several adverse outcomes in people aged 20-64 years diagnosed with depression. METHODS We con...