Is There Still Hope for Treating Depression With Antiinflammatories?

Abstract

The etiology and pathophysiology of depression have long been associated with inflammation, at least in a proportion of patients. Altered cytokine activity in the periphery and in the brain has brought support to a concept of depression-associated inflammation. However, these immunologic changes-and inflammation in particular-in depression have only been recently targeted for treatment. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been proposed to be of clinical use in the treatment of depression either as monotherapy or as adjuncts in combination with antidepressants. Specifically, selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and nonselective COX inhibitor NSAIDs as adjuncts or monotherapy have be..