Citalopram and its use in sleep-deprivation-induced depression

Curtailment of sleep in modern society leads to a spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders. Mounting evidence suggests that sleep deprivation (SD) is a risk factor for depression. Most recently, various reports have revealed the role of sleep in neuronal plasticity, learning and memory, and mood. SD studies provide insights into the cellular and molecular processes that are sensitive to sleep loss and have shown that SD negatively affects various brain regions. Citalopram (CTM), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is the most-frequently used antidepressant in clinical practice. The identification of an SD-induced impairment in the CaMKII-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway, which is implicated in synaptic plasticity and the beneficial effects of CTM on this pathway represent a novel treatment target for neuropsychiatric disorders associated with sleep loss. In this chapter, we provide an overview of CTM use in SD-induced depression.