Drugs of abuse, such as D-amphetamine or nicotine, are generally considered as acting through an increased release of dopamine in a subcortical structure, the nucleus accumbens, thus inducing locomotor hyperactivity in rats. Following repeated treatments, the same drugs induce a progressive increase in locomotor response called behavioral sensitization. This process has been suggested to play a...

Background: Research on treatment of depression has raised concerns regarding adequacy of medication trials and rationality of drug choice. Little data exists regarding pharmacotherapy by psychiatric residents. As practice habits begun in training will likely persist after graduation, examination of residents' antidepressant use may ultimately improve treatment by psychiatrists. Methods: Charts...

Social phobia is a common disorder associated with significant psychosocial impairment, representing a substantial public health problem largely determined by the high prevalence, and the lifelong chronicity. Social phobia starts in early childhood or adolescence and is often comorbid with depression, other anxiety disorders, alcohol and substance abuse or eating disorders. This cascade of como...

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are often ingested together with tryptamine hallucinogens, but relatively little is known about the consequences of their combined use. We have shown previously that monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) inhibitors alter the locomotor profile of the hallucinogen 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) in rats, and enhance its interaction with 5-HT2A receptors. Th...

Serotonin syndrome, a triad of autonomic instability, altered mental status and neuromuscular abnormalities, is usually attributed to serotonergic overdoses. Moclobemide is a new selective monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) that generally causes mild, self-limited gastrointestinal and central nervous system effects after ingestion. We present a case of serotonin syndrome that occurred after moc...

Noradrenaline has long played a key role in the way the etiology of depression is conceptualized and in the mechanism of action of many current antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (NRIs), the noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant ...

We present evidence disputing the hypothesis that memories are processed or consolidated in REM sleep. A review of REM deprivation (REMD) studies in animals shows these reports to be about equally divided in showing that REMD does, or does not, disrupt learning/memory. The studies supporting a relationship between REM sleep and memory have been strongly criticized for the confounding effects of...

OBJECTIVE Antidepressants are commonly used drugs with potential for numerous drug interactions. This study aims to systematically review the literature on drug interactions with antidepressants. METHODS We searched MEDLINE (1966 to November 2003) and EMBASE (1980 to 2003), using the heading drug interactions combined with individual antidepressant names. We restricted searches to English-lan...

OBJECTIVE To review the literature for reported cases of mania related to discontinuing antidepressant treatment, as well as for possible explanations of this phenomenon, and to present a case report. METHOD We undertook a literature review through the PubMed index, using the key words mania, antidepressant withdrawal, and antidepressants in bipolar disorder. We reviewed 11 articles featuring...

CONTEXT Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain disorder associated with multiple debilitating symptoms and high disease-related costs. Effective treatment options are needed. OBJECTIVES To determine the efficacy of antidepressants in the treatment of FMS by performing a meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, and the Cochrane Li...