Antidepressants: History, Science, and Issues

by Ann Westcot Jordan

Overview

This accessible volume offers a holistic exploration of this diverse class of drugs, from medical, historical, cultural, and economic perspectives.

Depression is one of the most commonly reported mental disorders, and it affects millions of Americans. A wide variety of medications are used to treat depression, many of which have become household names—Zoloft, Prozac, and Paxil among them. Because these medications have the ability to alter how people think and feel, however, physicians must weigh a number of factors when prescribing them, especially to teens. Antidepressants: History, Science, and Issues, a part of Greenwood's Story of a Drug series, offers a robust exploration of antidepressant medications that covers the historical, ethical, medical, legal, and scientific dimensions of these drugs.

After an introductory case study of a person with depression and this individual's problems and successes with antidepressants, the book provides an overview of depression and its various symptoms as well as the causes, prevalence, and diagnosis of depression. Readers will gain an understanding of the neurotransmission and specific mechanisms behind the activity of antidepressant medications; the effects and applications of these drugs, plus their associated risks of misuse and abuse; and related policy and societal issues.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440839276
Publisher:	ABC-CLIO, Incorporated
Publication date:	09/14/2018
Series:	The Story of a Drug
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	229
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Ann Westcot Jordan, PhD, is professor of psychology at Lewis University in Romeoville, IL, and a licensed clinical psychologist.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword ix

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xv

Chapter 1 A Case Study: Rachel's Battle with Depression 1

Chapter 2 What Are Antidepressants? 12

Chapter 3 Antidepressants: A Brief History 44

Chapter 4 How Antidepressants Work 69

Chapter 5 Effects and Applications 98

Chapter 6 Risks, Misuse, and Overdose 125

Chapter 7 Production, Distribution, and Regulation 148

Chapter 8 The Social Dimensions of Antidepressants 166

Chapter 9 The Future of Antidepressants 186

Directory of Resources 211

Glossary 217

Bibliography 221

Index 225

Editorial Reviews

This volume on antidepressants is part of Greenwood's The Story of a Drug series, geared toward teenagers…A most useful resource. Summing Up: Recommended. Undergraduates and general readers.” —Choice

From the Publisher