ANTIDEPRESSANT

Biological Functions

Antidepressant drugs, such as the tricyclic antidepressants and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are very important for the treatment of psychotic depression. They have been shown to be effective when used in the treatment of several anxiety disorders, including general anxiety, obsessive- compulsive disorder, and several phobias, including agoraphobia. Because the SSRIs are less toxic than the tricyclic antidepressants, their use in the treatment of anxiety is safer and less likely to produce serious side effects.