Posted by banga on April 30, 2005, at 8:14:10
In reply to Re: why do antipsychotics have anti-depressant effect?, posted by BIGDaddyachmed69 on April 30, 2005, at 2:05:45
Some thoughts on my end-
The atypical antipsychotics primarily block 5ht2a receptors--one of the subtypes of sertotonin. It is thought that in the case of this action, it helps anxiety and depression and OCD. Most tricyclic antidepressants also block 5ht2a, it is perhaps this action that makes some of them powerful OCD meds. Antidepressant activity in SSRIS may be more related to activating other serotonin sites more powerfully, and may overshadow the activation of 5ht2a sites (which theoretically then would strengthern, not lessen antianxiety effects).
For me, it is clear 5ht2a blockage helps anxiety immensely. Abilify and Geodon have helped me powerfully. (But GABA-related meds such as the benzos not only don't help, they cause me to pluncge into depression--whic makes me wonder if there is a subtype of anxiety that is more related to 5ht2a)
Also, if you think about it depression (and OCD) involves obsessive rumination--a thought disorder, just as schizophrenia spectrum disorders are thought disorders. At least from that perspective, it makes sense antipsychotics would help rumination.
I didn't say it clearly, but basically that is my thinking on this subject.
poster:banga
thread:491782
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050428/msgs/491815.html