Citation

Young SN, Moskowitz DS, aan het Rot M. J. Psychiatry Neurosci. 2014; 39(1): 60-65.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology and School of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Canadian Medical Association)

DOI

10.1503/jpn.130165

PMID

24280182

PMCID

PMC3868667

Abstract

Increasing serotonin decreases quarrelsome behaviours and enhances agreeable behaviours in humans. Antidepressants, even those whose primary action is not on serotonin, seem to increase serotonin function. We suggest that antidepressants act in part by effects on social behaviour, which leads to a gradual improvement in mood. We review the evidence supporting the idea that antidepressants may be moving behaviour from quarrelsome to agreeable. The more positive social responses of interaction partners would initiate a cycle of more positive social behaviour, and this iterative process would result in a clinically significant improvement in mood.

Language: en