Posted by paulb on March 25, 2002, at 11:27:31
In reply to How do Anti-Psychotic drugs help depression?, posted by Denise528 on March 24, 2002, at 12:04:52
I think the new atypical antipsychotics are used for depression. They may be effective on their own for anxiety and they can be effective for enhancing the effects of an antidepressant. For example Olanzapine on its own might have very little ad effect but added to Fluoxetine may be very beneficial. By blocking Serotonin 2 receptors more serotonin can act at other receptors. You get a Nefazadone like effect I guess. But also by blocking Dopamine receptors may help stimulate the release of more serotonin.
There may be other reasons other people have explained but that is my understanding of how antipsychotics help depression.
paulb
poster:paulb
thread:99860
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020322/msgs/100036.html