Cortical inhibitory systems and depression

Despite the availability of a number of treatment options, depression remains a leading cause of disability worldwide. Clinically used monoamine-acting antidepressant medications have suboptimal efficacies, and our understanding about the precise pathophysiology underlying depressive disorders is still incomplete. Adding to the simplistic view that depression results from monoaimine (serotonin) deficiency is the hypothesis that an inhibitory (GABAergic) circuit in the prefrontal cortex can profoundly influence the progression of symptoms. Evidence for the role of potassium channels within this cortical circuit has led us to develop novel pharmacological strategies that can selectively target discrete subpopulations of prefrontocortical cells with the the hope of improving treatment outcomes.