Mental Health

The Genesis of Fluoxetine: A Historical Perspective Fluoxetine, widely recognized by its brand name Prozac, stands as a landmark in psychopharmacology. Its journey began in 1972 at Eli Lilly and Company, with a team of dedicated researchers including David Wong, Ray Fuller, Bryan Malloy, and Klaus Schmiegel. The primary motivation behind its development was to find an antidepressant with a safer cardiovascular profile compared to the tricyclic antidepressants prevalent at the time. ...

Introduction: The Revolution in Antidepressant Medicine The landscape of depression treatment underwent a dramatic transformation with the introduction of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). These medications represent a paradigm shift from the earlier, more dangerous tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors, offering improved safety profiles while maintaining therapeutic efficacy. Understanding the differences between these two major classes of antidepressants is crucial for both healthcare providers and patients navigating treatment options. This comprehensive analysis explores their development history, mechanisms of action, comparative effectiveness, and side effect profiles. ...

Anxiety disorders affect over 40 million adults in the United States alone, making them the most common mental health condition worldwide. While traditional treatments have provided relief for many, the landscape of anxiety treatment is experiencing a revolutionary transformation. From FDA-approved digital therapeutics to groundbreaking psychedelic research, 2024 and 2025 have ushered in an era of unprecedented innovation in anxiety disorder treatment. Understanding Anxiety Disorders: The Neurobiological Foundation What Are Anxiety Disorders? Anxiety disorders represent a complex group of mental health conditions characterized by excessive fear, worry, and behavioral disturbances that significantly impair daily functioning. Unlike normal anxiety responses that serve as protective mechanisms, pathological anxiety persists inappropriately and interferes with an individual’s ability to function effectively in social, occupational, or other important areas of life. ...