Rosh Psychiatry Board Practice Exam 2025 - Free Psychiatry Board Practice Questions and Study Guide

Antidepressants are primarily used in treating mood disorders because they are specifically designed to target the neurotransmitter imbalances that often underlie conditions such as depression and anxiety. This class of medications works by increasing the levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the brain, which are crucial in regulating mood.

They are commonly prescribed to alleviate symptoms of major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and other mood-related conditions. The efficacy of antidepressants in these contexts is well-supported by extensive research, and they play a fundamental role in psychiatric treatment plans for individuals experiencing mood disorders.

Other medication classes have their own uses, but they do not primarily target mood disorders in the way antidepressants do. Stimulants are mainly used for attention disorders and narcolepsy, beta-blockers for cardiovascular issues and anxiety symptoms, and anticonvulsants primarily for seizure disorders and sometimes mood stabilization in bipolar disorder, but they are not the first-line treatment for mood disorders overall.