Abstract
The idea that impaired serotonergic function can lead to depression is a longstanding and still controversial subject. Targeting serotonergic function continues to lie at the heart in the management of clinical depression as exemplified by the current preeminence of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as the first-line class of drugs in the treatment of depression. However, a purely neurotransmitter-based theory in explaining the mechanism of action of antidepressants does not explain how these drugs reverse core psychological processes relevant to depression nor help us understand the delayed clinical onset of a change in depressive symptomatology. Neuropsychological studies have demonstrated that serotonergic manipulation can lead to changes in the way the brain appraises emotionally valenced information early in treatment. It has been hypothesized that targeting negative bias reduces the influence of this key maintaining factor in depression, attenuating symptoms across time and experience. In this chapter, the role of serotonin in depression, emotional processing, and function will be considered.
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