antidepressants: how do they work?
There is a common misconception that antidepressants elevate the mood of a depressed patient. This is, however, not true.
There has been various research done that has shown that antidepressants do not, in fact, alter the reward threshold of an individual (meaning it doesn't elevate your mood). What these studies have shown, however, is that antidepressants protect you from stress and prevent you from experiencing the mood-depressing effects that stress can have.
As for how antidepressants work in the brain, they increase the release of several neurotransmitters, or chemicals in the brain, including serotonin, norepinephrine, and (rarely) dopamine. To this day, it is unknown why increasing the release of these neurotransmitters alleviates depressive symptoms, although their have been theories. Some antidepressants can also be used to treat anxiety, which is often associated with depression. What is known, however, is that antidepressants protect you from stress, which is a major factor in why many individuals experience depression. They can often be very helpful, usually in conjunction with some form of therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy.
There has been various research done that has shown that antidepressants do not, in fact, alter the reward threshold of an individual (meaning it doesn't elevate your mood). What these studies have shown, however, is that antidepressants protect you from stress and prevent you from experiencing the mood-depressing effects that stress can have.
As for how antidepressants work in the brain, they increase the release of several neurotransmitters, or chemicals in the brain, including serotonin, norepinephrine, and (rarely) dopamine. To this day, it is unknown why increasing the release of these neurotransmitters alleviates depressive symptoms, although their have been theories. Some antidepressants can also be used to treat anxiety, which is often associated with depression. What is known, however, is that antidepressants protect you from stress, which is a major factor in why many individuals experience depression. They can often be very helpful, usually in conjunction with some form of therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy.