SSRI is the abbreviation for selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor. SSRIs are antidepressant drugs, though they are also used to treat conditions in addition to depression. Examples of SSRIs include fluoxetine and paroxetine. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter found in the brain, sometimes known as the "feel-good" chemical. If you have inadequate amounts of serotonin in your brain, you may develop depressive symptoms. SSRIs alleviate these symptoms by blocking the re-absorption of serotonin by neurons in the brain, thus leaving more free-circulating serotonin. Although SSRIs were originally indicated for depression, they're also effective treatments for anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder.
Depression
SSRIs have been used to treat depression since 1987 when the first SSRI--fluoxetine, commonly known by its trade name, Prozac--was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Despite this, a 2010 research paper published in the scientific blog JAMA cast some doubt on the effectiveness of antidepressants such as SSRIs in treating severe depression. In concluding his research, lead author Jay C. Fournier said, "The magnitude of benefit of antidepressant medication compared with placebo increases with severity of depression symptoms and may be minimal or nonexistent in patients with mild or moderate symptoms. However, he added that for patients with severe depression, "the benefit of medications over placebo is substantial."
Anxiety Disorder
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center or UMMC, SSRIs are a primary first-line treatment for anxiety disorder--such as panic disorder and social anxiety--although the UMMC advises that SSRIs work best for anxiety disorder when used alongside psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT. However, according to a 2010 research paper published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, SSRIs may be faster and more effective in treating anxiety disorders than CBT alone. According to lead author F.J. von Apeldoorn, "Gains produced by CBT were slower to emerge than those produced by CBT plus SSRI and SSRI (alone)."
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD affects 2 million to 3 million adults in the U.S., according to the International OCD Foundation. SSRIs such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, escitalopram and citalopram have been proven effective in treating OCD, though the International OCD Foundation says high doses are usually needed in order to work in most people. Research published in "The Cochrane Collaboration" in 2009 found that although the long-term efficacy and tolerability of SSRIs for OCD has not been fully identified, they are more effective than placebo, at least in the short term.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- JAMA: Antidepressant Drug Effects and Depression Severity
- UMCC: Anxiety disorders - Medications
- Journal of Clinical Psychiatry: A randomized trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or both combined for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia: treatment results through 1-year follow-up
- The International OCD Foundation: Medicine for OCD
