title: Novel agents in development for the treatment of depression.
abstract: There are several investigational drugs in development for the treatment of depression. Some of the novel antidepressants in development target monoaminergic neurotransmission in accordance with the "monoamine hypothesis of depression." However, the current conceptualization of antidepressant actions is that it is the downstream effects on protein synthesis and neuroplasticity that account for therapeutic efficacy, rather than the immediate effects on synaptic monoamine levels. Thus, a number of novel agents in development directly target components of this "neuroplasticity hypothesis of depression," including hypothetically overactive glutamatergic neurotransmission and dysfunctional hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning.
authors.affiliation: 1 Neuroscience Education Institute, Carlsbad, California, USA.
authors.forename: Meghan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Grady
authors.affiliation: 1 Neuroscience Education Institute, Carlsbad, California, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Stahl
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018683:Excitatory Amino Acid Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014179:Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018683:Excitatory Amino Acid Agents; D014179:Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors