Depression is a common psychiatric condition characterized by affective, cognitive, psychomotor, and neurovegetative symptoms that interfere with a person's ability to work, study, deal with interpersonal relationships, and enjoy once-pleasurable activities. After the serendipitous discovery of the first antidepressants, for years the only pharmacodynamic mechanisms explored in the search of novel antidepressants were those related to the 3 main monoamines: serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. New-generation monoaminergic antidepressants, such as selective-serotonin and dual-acting serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, improved treatment and quality of life of depressed patients. Nevertheless, there are still important clinical limitations: the long latency of onset of the antidepressant action; side effects, which can lead to early discontinuation; low rate of response; and high rate of relapse/recurrence. Therefore, in the last several years, the focus of research has moved from monoamines toward other molecular mechanisms, including glutamatergic (Glu) neurotransmission. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on the Glu system and on its relationships with mood disorders. Up to now, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, in particular ketamine, provided the most promising results in preclinical studies and produced a consistent and rapid, although transient, antidepressant effect with a good tolerability profile in humans. Although data are encouraging, more double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials are needed to clarify the real potentiality of ketamine, and of the other Glu modulators, in the treatment of unipolar and bipolar depression. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013. Antidepressants; depression; glutamate (Glu); ketamine; N-methyl-daspartate (NMDA) antagonists; riluzole

Catena-Dell'osso, M., Fagiolini, A., Rotella, F., Baroni, S., Marazziti, D. (2013). Glutamate system as target for development of novel antidepressants. CNS SPECTRUMS, 18(4), 188-198 [10.1017/S1092852912000971].

Glutamate system as target for development of novel antidepressants

Fagiolini, A.;
2013-01-01

Abstract

Depression is a common psychiatric condition characterized by affective, cognitive, psychomotor, and neurovegetative symptoms that interfere with a person's ability to work, study, deal with interpersonal relationships, and enjoy once-pleasurable activities. After the serendipitous discovery of the first antidepressants, for years the only pharmacodynamic mechanisms explored in the search of novel antidepressants were those related to the 3 main monoamines: serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. New-generation monoaminergic antidepressants, such as selective-serotonin and dual-acting serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, improved treatment and quality of life of depressed patients. Nevertheless, there are still important clinical limitations: the long latency of onset of the antidepressant action; side effects, which can lead to early discontinuation; low rate of response; and high rate of relapse/recurrence. Therefore, in the last several years, the focus of research has moved from monoamines toward other molecular mechanisms, including glutamatergic (Glu) neurotransmission. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on the Glu system and on its relationships with mood disorders. Up to now, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, in particular ketamine, provided the most promising results in preclinical studies and produced a consistent and rapid, although transient, antidepressant effect with a good tolerability profile in humans. Although data are encouraging, more double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials are needed to clarify the real potentiality of ketamine, and of the other Glu modulators, in the treatment of unipolar and bipolar depression. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013. Antidepressants; depression; glutamate (Glu); ketamine; N-methyl-daspartate (NMDA) antagonists; riluzole
2013
Catena-Dell'osso, M., Fagiolini, A., Rotella, F., Baroni, S., Marazziti, D. (2013). Glutamate system as target for development of novel antidepressants. CNS SPECTRUMS, 18(4), 188-198 [10.1017/S1092852912000971].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11365/44603
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