The central theme in this thesis is the behavioral toxicity of antidepressant drugs. It is hypothesized that the net action of antidepressants on serotonin neurotransmission has specific effects on cognition, including memory improvement and attention impairment, whereas other pharmacological mechanisms encountered in antidepressants, such as anticholinergic-, anti-adrenergic and antihistaminergic mechanisms may have a negative impact on performance. The first part of the thesis concerns antidepressants that exert adverse effects on cognition and driving performance. The effects of specific antidepressant treatments on cognition and driving performance are investigated in healthy volunteers and depressed patients. The second part of the thesis concerns the role of serotonin in cognition. The neurotransmitter serotonin was manipulated by an antidepressant (particularly a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) in combination with 5-HT receptor agents and cognitive performance was assessed. (Author/publisher)
Abstract