Role of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and psychedelics in the treatment of major depressive disorder: A perspective on mechanistic insight and current status.
European journal of pharmacology August 15, 2025 Niharika Singh, Puja Panwar Hazari, Parul Mittal et al. 16 citations
Depression impairs cognition, learning, and memory by disrupting brain chemistry. The monoamine hypothesis links depression to low serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Antidepressants such as SSRIs and SNRIs, which block serotonin and norepinephrine transporters, are primary treatments for major depressive disorder. Recently, psychedelics have gained importance as antidepressants. This review covers SSRIs, SNRIs, and psychedelics, their target receptors, and recent treatment advances. It also discusses the polypharmacology of psychedelics and fMRI studies that illuminate brain dynamics under psychedelics.