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9990 · 1.2.3

Treatment and management of mood (affective) disorders

9990 Clinical — antidepressants, CBT, ECT, and combined treatments for depression.

Need to know

What you need to know

  • Antidepressants, primarily SSRIs, aim to correct a hypothesised neurochemical imbalance.
  • SSRIs (e.g., fluoxetine) work by blocking the reuptake of serotonin, increasing its concentration in the synapse.
  • They are effective for many but can take 2-4 weeks to work and may cause side effects.
  • Older types like Tricyclics (TCAs) and MAOIs are less common due to more severe side-effect profiles.

Explanation

Treatment and management of mood (affective) disorders

  1. Antidepressants, primarily SSRIs, aim to correct a hypothesised neurochemical imbalance.
  2. SSRIs (e.g., fluoxetine) work by blocking the reuptake of serotonin, increasing its concentration in the synapse.
  3. They are effective for many but can take 2-4 weeks to work and may cause side effects.
  4. Older types like Tricyclics (TCAs) and MAOIs are less common due to more severe side-effect profiles.
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