A silver bullet for the treatment of depression?
The search for a rapid-acting antidepressant has been a subject of intense research interest for several decades. The article by Lucas and colleagues in this issue of Neuron provides compelling evidence from preclinical animal models that drugs acting at the serotonin 5-HT(4) receptor could finally achieve this goal. However, caution is warranted, as results from animal studies are not always predictive of therapeutic actions in humans.
Duman
Ronald S
RS
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06508, USA. ronald.duman@yale.edu
D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D044422:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome