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An antidepressant is a class of medication primarily prescribed to treat clinical depression, anxiety disorders, and certain chronic pain conditions by balancing neurotransmitters—such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine—in the brain to help regulate mood, emotion, and sleep.
Author and reviewer
Editorial responsibilityReferences and further reading
- Mrozek, W., Socha, J., Sidorowicz, K., Skrok, A., Syrytczyk, A., Piątkowska-Chmiel, I., & Herbet, M. (2023). Pathogenesis and treatment of depression: Role of diet in prevention and therapy. Nutrition, 115, 112143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2023.112143 View source
- Aly, J., & Engmann, O. (2020). The way to a human's brain goes through their stomach: Dietary factors in major depressive disorder. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 14, 582853. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2020.582853 View source
How to cite this entry
CNP (2026). Antidepressant. In CNP Encyclopedia Editorial Board (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology. The Center for Nutritional Psychology.
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