BACKGROUND Depressive disorders are persistent, recurring illnesses that cause great suffering for patients and their families. PURPOSE To evaluate the benefits and adverse effects of newer pharmacotherapies and herbal treatments for depressive disorders in adults and adolescents. DATA SOURCES English-language and non-English-language literature from 1980 to January 1998 was identified from...

BACKGROUND Antidepressants have been empirically used in the treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD). However, results from recent clinical trials investigating their efficacy are conflicting. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of antidepressants in the management of FD in adults. METHODS Databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and BIOSIS...

OBJECTIVE Previous work suggested that first-trimester exposure to tricyclic antidepressants or fluoxetine does not affect adversely child IQ and language development. However, many women need antidepressants throughout pregnancy to avoid morbidity and suicide attempts. Little is known about the fetal safety of tricyclic antidepressants and fluoxetine when taken throughout pregnancy. The goal o...

The serotonin transporter (SERT) regulates extracellular levels of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT) in the brain by transporting 5HT into neurons and glial cells. The human SERT (hSERT) is the primary target for drugs used in the treatment of emotional disorders, including depression. hSERT belongs to the solute carrier 6 family that includes a bacterial leucine transporter (LeuT), for whic...