How is the effect of antidepressants influenced by treatment experiences?

This project investigates the neurobiological mechanisms of the antidepressant effects of positive vs negative expectations arising from previous treatment experiences. Using rats, it examines how previous treatment experiences influence the effect of pharmacological antidepressant treatment. The animal model provides a unique opportunity to explore these effects on behaviour at neural and molecular level. It will focus on plasticity processes and dopaminergic signalling pathways in the brain and distinguish between the prefrontal cortex and mesolimbic reward centre in terms of their importance for treatment expectation.

Recommended reading:

Brenes JC, Lackinger M, Höglinger GU, Schratt G, Schwarting RKW, Wöhr M (2016) Differential effects of social and physical environmental enrichment on brain plasticity, cognition, and ultrasonic communication in rats. J Comp Neurol 524: 1586-1607. PubMed

Lukas M, Wöhr M (2015) Endogenous vasopressin, innate anxiety, and the emission of pro-social 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations during social play behavior in juvenile rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology 56: 35-44. PubMed

Rief W, Barsky AJ, Bingel U, Doering B, Schwarting RKW, Wöhr M, Schweiger U (2016) Rethinking psychopharmacotherapy: The role of treatment context and brain plasticity in antidepressant and antipsychotic interventions. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 60: 51-64. PubMed