Which of the following statements is true of antidepressant drugs?
Multiple Choice
They are primarily used to treat bipolar disorder.
They increase the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain.
They are ineffective in treating anxiety disorders and eating and sleep disorders.
They are drugs that regulate mood.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
They are drugs that regulate mood.
Explanation:
Antidepressant drugs are a class of medications primarily used to regulate mood and treat various mental health conditions, most commonly major depressive disorder. However, their therapeutic applications extend beyond depression to include anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, and chronic pain conditions, among others. Thus, the correct and most comprehensive statement is that they are drugs that regulate mood.
Let’s examine why the other options are incorrect:
- “They are primarily used to treat bipolar disorder.”
This is incorrect. While antidepressants can sometimes be used during the depressive phases of bipolar disorder, they are not the primary treatment. Mood stabilizers like lithium, or antipsychotic medications, are more appropriate for managing bipolar disorder to prevent manic episodes. Antidepressants used alone in bipolar disorder can sometimes trigger mania, so they must be prescribed cautiously and usually with a mood stabilizer. - “They increase the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain.”
This is incorrect and misleading. Most antidepressants, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), prevent the reabsorption (reuptake) of serotonin into the presynaptic neuron, which leads to increased levels of serotonin in the synaptic cleft. This enhances mood regulation. So, rather than increasing reabsorption, they inhibit it. - “They are ineffective in treating anxiety disorders and eating and sleep disorders.”
This is false. Antidepressants, especially SSRIs and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), are widely used to treat generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, PTSD, and OCD. Some are also used off-label or as part of treatment for eating disorders like bulimia nervosa and sleep disorders, particularly when depression or anxiety is a contributing factor.
In summary, antidepressants are valuable tools in mental health for regulating mood and treating a wide range of psychiatric conditions.