Serotonin

1
Serotonin
2
Content

• What is Serotonin?
• What is it used for?
• Whats the effect (too much/too little of it)?
• Factors that may cause Imbalance in serotonin
• Case study
• Drugs

3
Whats Serotonin

• Neurotransmitter
• Known as 5 hydroxytryptamine
• Found in
• Pinal gland
• Digestive tract
• Central nervous system
• Blood platelets

4
What is it used for?

• Control the mood of a person
• Regulate sleep
• Arousal levels
• Social behavior

5
Whats the effect?

• Too little
• Eating disorders
• Panic attacks
• OCD
• Too much
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Sexual dysfunction
• Gastrointestinal disturbances

6
Factors that may cause Imbalance in serotonin

• Low brain cell production of serotonin
• A lack of receptor sites able to receive the
  serotonin that is made
• Inability of serotonin to reach the receptor
  sites
• A shortage in tryptophan

7
Case study

• 72-hour pilgrimage, Japan
• Did not consume water or food
• Hallucinate after 48 hours
• Blood sample showed serotonin levels had increased

8
Drugs

• SSRIs
• Most commonly used antidepressant
• Symptoms
• Examples
• Citalopram (Celexa)
• Escitalopram (Lexapro)
• Fluoxetine (Prozac)
• Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva)
• Sertraline (Zoloft

9
References

• Feature, Colette BouchezWebMD. "Serotonin and
  Depression 9 Questions and Answers." WebMD.
  WebMD, 30 Dec. 0089. Web. 13 Sept. 2013.
  lthttp//www.webmd.com/depression/features/serotoni
  ngt
• Nordqvist, Christian. "What Is Serotonin? What
  Does Serotonin Do?" Medical News Today.
  MediLexicon International, 04 Aug. 2011. Web. 13
  Sept. 2013. lthttp//www.medicalnewstoday.com/artic
  les/232248.phpgt
• M. Stahl, Stephen. "Serotonin It's Possible to
  Have Too Much of a Good Thing/Brainstorms
  December 1997." Serotonin It's Possible to Have
  Too Much of a Good Thing/Brainstorms December
  1997. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2013.
• Crane, John Hannibal, Jette. Biological level
  of analysis psychology and behavior Psychology
  Course Companion. Oxford, 2009.