A 28-year-old man presented to the office with the feeling of loss of interest in usual activities for the past two weeks. The patient has had guilt feelings and continuous sadness for the past two weeks. He lost interest in most activities, and he has anorexia. He can not sleep well due to insomnia. He does not have suicidal thoughts. The patient has no previous history of medical or surgical problems. Physical examination, CBC, TSH, and B12 levels are all within normal ranges. The patient is diagnosed with major depressive disorder and fluoxetine is prescribed. You are explaining to the patient that the drug stops the reuptake of a neurotransmitter specifically released by a set of neurons. These neurons are most likely localized in which of the following structures?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Dorsal raphe nucleus neurons in the brainstem release serotonin. These neurons send synapses throughout the brain. Antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and tricyclic antidepressants which target these synapses.

A 28-Year-Old Man Presented to the Office with the Feeling