biochemical correlates of depression
Last reviewed 01/2018
The monoamine theory of depression proposes that serotonin and noradrenalin function are reduced in depression.
The evidence is indirect but there are four main findings:
- levels of the metabolite of serotonin (5HIAA) are reduced in the CSF of patients with depression
- post-mortem studies of patients dying with depression show reduced levels of serotonin
- neurendocrine functions mediated by serotonin are suppressed in depression
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are effective antidepressant drugs