Drugs - Psychotherapeutic Medications

what does the monoamine theory of mood propose underlies depression?  

antidepressants
    Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
        best known original TCAs:
        currently used TCAs:
    how do they affect CNS
        neurotransmitter effect thought to improve depression:
        neurotransmitter effects that cause side effects:
    side effects
    other risks
    other uses besides treatment of depression

    Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
        example of a MAOI:
        newest, most promising form of MAOI:
    how do they affect CNS
        what is monoamine oxidase
        neurotransmitter effect thought to improve depression:
   What risk/problem is caused by MAO inhibitors?
        What must patients using MAOIs do to avoid this risk
        What happens if they don't do this?
   other uses besides treatment of depression

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
        best known original SSRI (generic and brand names)
        other examples:
    how do they affect CNS
        neurotransmitter effect thought to improve depression:
    side effects
    other risks/problems of SSRIs
    other uses besides treatment of depression
    what is serotonin syndrome & its symptoms?
    what are the symptoms of SSRI discontinuation or withdrawal?


what are examples of currently popular antidepressants that don't fit in the above categories and why might they be used

what changes in the monoamine theory of mood have been proposed as explanations for the several week delayed effectiveness of all the antidepressants?

what "black box warning" has been added to all PDR listings and package inserts for antidepressants?

what is a herbal/dietary supplement for depression
how is it similar to the prescription meds for depression

Mood Stabilizers

best known drug for biopolar disorder:
what is unusual about its characteristics
        side effects:
        risks:
        signs of lithium toxicity:
        what must patient do to avoid this risk:
        besides this risk, what is a complicating problem in the treatment of bipolar disorder with lithium
2 categories of drugs used as alternatives to lithium and examples of each

what is the trend today (both in the treatment of depression and the treatment of b ipolar disorder) if satisfactory results are not obtained using one of the medications above?

Antipsychotics
    other terms to refer to antipsychotic medications
    what is the dopamine theory or hypothesis of schizophrenia and what supports this proposal
Typical or First Generation Antipsychotics
    phenothiazines
        best known example (generic and brand names)
        most important side effects:
        drug action on CNS that is thought to improve the symptoms of schizophrenia:
        drug actions on CNS that are thought to cause the different side effects
        different types of extrapyramidal motor symptoms
  what well known typical antipsychotic is from the family of drugs called butyrophenones?
  how is this drug somewhat different from the phenothiazines?

Atypical or Second Generation Antipsychotics
    first and best known example (generic and brand name):
    other examples of atypicals:
    drug action on the CNS:
    how is this different from earlier antipsychotics
    in what ways was this drug an improvement over the typical antipsychotics?
    major drawback of this drug:
    major undesired side effects of other atypicals:

what is neuroleptic malignant syndrome?
other uses for "antipsychotic" medications