Learning Objectives
- Outline the symptoms, prevalence and diagnostic criteria for major depression
- Describe the monoamine, stress and neuroplasticity theories for the pathogenesis of depression
- Describe the main mechanisms proposed to be responsible for the delayed onset action of antidepressant drugs
- Describe the mechanisms of action, and compare the main adverse effects and precautions associated with the different classes of antidepressant drugs
- Outline the main principles of drug therapy for major depression
Depression
- what is the prevalence of depression in Australia?
- what are the main brain regions involved in depression?
- how does the monoamine theory describe depression?
- how does the stress theory describe depression?
- how does the neuroplasticity theory describe depression?
Antidepressants
- how do antidepressants and psychotherapy compare?
- what are the 1st-line drugs for depression?
- why do antidepressants take 2 weeks to improve symptoms?
- why do some antidepressants exert α2 block?
- how does ketamine act as an antidepressant?
- what is serotonin syndrome?