The Effects of Reserpine on Depression

Course overview

Course Description: This course is based on material published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology and is available as an open-access article. Reserpine is an effective antihypertensive drug, but its role in routine practice has declined such that it is rarely used. This is largely based on the assumption that reserpine causes depression. This assumption was a foundation for the original monoamine hypothesis of depression. However, there remains conflicting evidence as to whether reserpine causes depression and no systematic review of available evidence. We systematically reviewed the evidence on the effects of reserpine on depressive and related symptoms (e.g., anxiety, suicidal ideation). Electronic searches of MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO were conducted to identify studies up to 14 February 2021. Studies of any methodological design involving reserpine-treated and reserpine-untreated conditions in any adult human population were included, and a narrative synthesis of findings was undertaken. The risk of bias (RoB) was examined using ROBINS-I. Of the 35 studies meeting inclusion criteria, 9 were randomized controlled trials. Eleven studies reported some depressogenic effects, 13 reported no effect, and 11 reported putative antidepressant effects. Studies identifying depressive effects were more likely to examine people without psychiatric disorders at baseline, while studies identifying a potential antidepressant effect tended to treat fewer participants for shorter durations at higher doses. Around one-third of studies conducted in people with psychiatric disorders showed beneficial effects on depression symptoms. 30/35 studies were at high RoB. Associations between reserpine and depression are inconsistent and limited by a lack of high-quality evidence. Due to reserpines apparently complex effects, we urge nuance rather than simplicity surrounding the monoamine hypothesis of depression. This course on the relationship between reserpine and depression is designed for social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, nurses, and substance abuse counselors who do clinical work. In addition, this course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop their knowledge of the relationship between reserpine and depression. The course material includes a literature review of research. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require continuing clinical education courses for license renewal. The course is based on a journal article that includes research. It contains statistical analysis and data that some clinicians enjoy reading, and others do not. A significant benefit of reading research-based articles for continuing education is they provide practitioners with the latest findings in their field. Authors: Strawbridge, Javed, Cave, Juahar, Yound Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding the relationship between reserpine and depression. Specifically, a professional will: Identify characteristics of reserpine and its proposed mechanism of provoking depression. Recognize primary and secondary outcomes of the relationship between reserpine and depression. Describe the putative antidepressant effects of reserpine. Citation: Strawbridge, R., Javed, R. R., Cave, J., Jauhar, S., & Young, A. H. (2023). The effects of reserpine on depression: A systematic review. Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England), 37(3), 248-260. https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811221115762