Since its identification in neurons of the central nervous system (CNS), serotonin (5-HT) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder (PD), and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), as well as in the mode of action of psychotherapeutic drugs.<sup>21 Eriksson E., Humble M. Serotonin in psychiatric pathophysiology  Basel: Karger (1990).  66-119

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> These findings have stimulated research on brain 5-HT pathways, especially during the last two decades as more selective drugs have been introduced into medical practice. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class of pharmaceuticals ranks nowadays among the most frequently prescribed medications. This effort resulted in a wealth of morphologic, electrophysiologic, neurochemical, and pharmacologic data. In the following sections, selected topics relevant for psychiatry are discussed briefly.