Antidepressants and somatic symptoms: therapeutic actions are expanding beyond affective spectrum disorders to functional somatic syndromes

J Clin Psychiatry. 2003 Jul;64(7):745-6.

Abstract

Having expanded their original role as primary treatment for depression to preferred treatment for anxiety disorders, antidepressants are now emerging as potential therapeutic agents for many other disorders characterized by distressing or even painful somatic symptoms.

MeSH terms

  • Antidepressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Mood Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Mood Disorders / physiopathology
  • Norepinephrine / metabolism
  • Serotonin / metabolism
  • Somatoform Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Somatoform Disorders / physiopathology

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Serotonin
  • Norepinephrine