Triple reuptake inhibitors (TRIs): do they promise us a rose garden?

• Published in: Klinik psikofarmakoloji bülteni 2018-06, Vol.28 (2), p.119-122
• Main Authors: Kose, Samet, Cetin, Mesut
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cognitive psychology; Mental depression; Mental disorders
• ISSN: 2475-0573; 2475-0581
• DOI: 10.1080/24750573.2018.1443386

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent psychiatric disorder and is reported as one of the most leading cause of disabilities and markedly contributes to a significant global burden of the disease worldwide. It has been reported that MDD has lifetime prevalence of almost 16% in the USA [1]. MDD significantly alters the quality of life of the patients, productivity at the workplace, and has adverse effects on interpersonal and familial relationships. In a world with increasingly demanding service-oriented economies, individuals would be more vulnerable to the adverse effects of depression on cognitive, emotional, and interpersonal levels. Depression also leads to considerable maladaptive illness behaviours with an increased risk of cardio- vascular diseases, neurocognitive disorders, and increased health care utilization with comorbid chronic illnesses. Following the serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors’ (SNRIs) relative success in treat- ment of MDD, researchers have pursued the idea of developing novel drugs blocking all three monoamine transporters, namely serotonin, NE, DA reuptake inhibitors, or triple reuptake inhibitors (TRIs). This concept was based on the positive role of DA on the reward system and the fact that anhedonia was a prominent symptom in a subset of MDD patients, especially those with melancholic depression.