Which class of medications is listed for treating depression?

• A. MAO inhibitors
• B. SSRIs
• C. Tricyclic antidepressants
• D. Antipsychotics

Answer: (B)

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the go-to class for treating depression because they increase serotonin availability in the brain by blocking its reuptake, which helps improve mood, energy, and sleep. They’re generally well tolerated, have a favorable safety profile in overdose compared to older options, and are considered first-line therapy. Common examples include fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram, and paroxetine. It often takes a few weeks to notice benefits, and side effects can include GI upset, sleep changes, and sexual dysfunction.

Other choices are less typical as first-line treatments for unipolar depression: MAO inhibitors require strict dietary restrictions and carry serious interaction risks; tricyclic antidepressants have more anticholinergic and cardiovascular side effects and higher overdose risk; antipsychotics aren’t standard antidepressants (though some are used as augmentation in resistant cases).