title: Major depressive disorder and diabetes: does serotonin bridge the gap?
abstract: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common psychiatric illnesses worldwide, with reported prevalence rates ranging between 10% and 19%. Pharmacotherapy is a first-line option for the management of MDD and, as a result, the use of antidepressants has increased 4 fold in the last 20 years. Serotonin is the most commonly dysregulated neurotransmitter in the etiology of MDD and this system is the primary focus of most medications used in the treatment of illness. Although antidepressant use in adults increases the risk of developing new onset type 2 diabetes, the mechanisms underlying this association are poorly defined. This review will focus on 1) the evidence from human and animal studies suggesting a link between the use of antidepressants that target serotonin signaling (i.e., SSRIs, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs), and noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants (NaSSAs)) and increased risk of diabetes, and 2) the mechanisms by which alterations in serotonin signalling by antidepressants can affect glucose homeostasis.
authors.forename: Nicole E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: De Long
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Stepita
authors.forename: Valerie H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, McMaster University, RM HSC-3N52, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4K1. hollow@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Alison C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Holloway
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000378:metabolism*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D012701:Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors