serotonin

Examples of serotonin in the following topics:

• Hallucinogens

  • Hallucinogens affect the levels of serotonin or glutamate in the brain and are divided into psychedelics, dissociatives, and deleriants.
  • Most psychedelics work by interacting with serotonin receptors in the brain.
  • LSD, also a psychedelic, blocks serotonin from the brain, which regulates mood, perception, muscle contraction, and other cognitive functions.
  • LSD blocks serotonin because it is, structurally, similar to serotonin.
  • For this reason, the brain mistakes LSD for serotonin and directs it to the synaptic cleft (instead of actual serotonin).

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

  • Studies have implicated about two dozen potential genes that may be involved in OCD; these genes regulate the function of three neurotransmitters: serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate (Pauls, 2010).
  • OCD has been linked to abnormalities with the neurotransmitter serotonin, although this could be either a cause or an effect of OCD.
  • Serotonin is thought to have a role in regulating anxiety.
  • The serotonin receptors of OCD sufferers may be under-stimulated, which is consistent with the observation that many OCD patients benefit from the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a class of medications that allows more serotonin to be readily available.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder

  • Pharmaceutical treatments for GAD include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are more commonly used as antidepressants.
  • SSRIs block the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain so that it can keep activating serotonin receptors, improving the individual's mood.
  • SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are a type of drug frequently used to treat disorders with symptoms of depression (e.g., major depressive disorder) and anxiety.

• Stimulants

  • MDMA also has many physical side effects: since MDMA increases the activity of serotonin, the brain becomes depleted of serotonin, causing a rebound sadness or depression in the days following use.
  • MDMA differs from most stimulants in that its primary pharmacological effect is on the neurotransmitter serotonin rather than dopamine, epinephrine, or norepinephrine.

• Pharmacotherapy (Medication)

  • Antidepressants come in several forms: tricyclics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs, such as Prozac and Praxil), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
  • The most commonly used antidepressants primarily affect the norepinephrine and serotonin (monoamine) neurotransmitter systems.
  • Most antidepressants increase the available amount of norepinephrine or serotonin (or sometimes both) at the neuronal synapse, by decreasing the reuptake of these neurotransmitters into the pre-synaptic cell.
  • They do this by inhibiting the norepinephrine transporter or the serotonin transporter, or by decreasing the metabolism of these neurotransmitters.

• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)

  • Prescribed medications include several classes of antidepressants: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

• Explaining Mood Disorders

  • There is also a common belief that low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin play a central role in the development and course of affective disorders.
  • SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) have shown to improve depressed mood and are often used as medical treatment.

• How Stress Impacts our Health

  • Sustained or chronic stress, in particular, leads to elevated hormones such as cortisol, the "stress hormone," and reduced serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine, which has been linked to depression.

• Introduction to Anxiety Disorders

  • Low levels of GABA (a neurotransmitter in the brain that reduces central nervous system activity) can contribute to anxiety, and serotonin, glutamate, and the 5-Ht2A receptor have also all been implicated in the development of anxiety disorders.

• Meditation