The Role of Oxidative Stress in Depressive Disorders

Abstract

We have carried out a medline search "oxidative stress depression", "oxidative stress affective disorders", "free radicals and depression", "free radicals and affective disorders" "antidepressants oxidative stress" "antidepressants and free radicals". We found numerous reports elaborating depressive disorder and oxidative stress. Most of the previous studies concentrated on investigating antioxidants in human blood as well as in animal models. However, few of these reports were able to show correlations of reduced oxidative stress with antidepressant treatment and clinical outcome measures. Fewer studies elaborated the concentrations of antioxidants in the human brain and some pro-oxidative enzymes in depression. However, more studies are needed to elucidate the complex role of oxidative stress in the aetiology of depression.