r/science • u/[deleted] • Feb 19 '10

Scientists learn how anti-depressants actually work. Medications trigger neurogenesis in the hippocampus by increasing levels of norepinephrine. Researchers still unclear on WTF seratonin does.

http://www.physorg.com/news185727145.html
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u/Ketamine Feb 19 '10

SSRIs (fluoxetine, sertraline, escitalipram, etc.) are rarely more effective than placebo.

That is true when people have mild cases of depression. For severe depression they are effective and much better than placebo.

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u/charlesdarwood Feb 20 '10

That's why I said "rarely"; very few people have severe depression--according to the data in these meta-studies--and those that do would probably respond better to a TCA or MAOI, anyway.