The biochemistry of affective disorders.

The article reviews the related literature on the biochemistry of affective disorders. According to the author, there is evidence that in affective disorders there are biochemical disturbances in three main areas: in amine metabolism, in electrolyte distribution and in adrenal cortical activity. He stresses that there is growing evidence of a causal association between brain monoamines and affective disturbances. Further, there is good evidence that drugs, which increase the effective activity of brain monoamines, alleviate depression.