Molecular (Neurotransmitter) Mechanism of Antidepressant Agents; A Signaling Approach

Abstract

Anxiety and depression are illnesses that impact a proportion of around 17-20 percent of world citizens. Antidepressants and anxiolytics are largely used in the management of depression and anxiety with antidepressants taking a series of weeks to develop clinical symptoms indicating that these drugs start any appropriate changes on brain structures affected by depression and anxiety. So that they may come up with more effective and shorter period to be used drugs in treating anxiety and depression, it is considerable to determine how antidepressants achieve the desired effects. Recent findings indicate that antidepressants have the ability of inducing neurogenesis in the adult brain; however, proposed mechanisms remained elusive. The paper outlines the differing neurotransmitter systems and receptors activation that is hindered by anxiety and depression including Serotonin, Noradrenalin, GABA, Orphan, mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids receptors and the way they are modulated by antidepressant medication depending on the signaling molecules and pathways which are activated in neurogenic processes of neurotransmitter activated- receptors.