In a clinical study, researchers randomly assigned 200 adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder to either receive a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or an inactive placebo pill for eight weeks. Neither participants nor researchers conducting the depression assessments knew which pill each participant received. After eight weeks, depression scores in the SSRI group had decreased significantly more than in the placebo group, though both groups improved somewhat.
Based on its name, an SSRI most directly acts by:
- A
Stimulating the release of dopamine in the limbic system
- B
Blocking serotonin receptors on the postsynaptic neuron
- C
Destroying serotonergic neurons in the raphe nuclei
- Dcheck_circle
Blocking the reabsorption of serotonin into the presynaptic neuron, increasing its availability in the synapse
Explanation
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) prevent presynaptic neurons from reabsorbing serotonin, leaving more serotonin in the synaptic cleft to bind to postsynaptic receptors. They do not block receptors or destroy neurons.