Abstract
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) has been implicated in a large number of psychophysiologic processes including the regulation of sleep, appetite, mood, aggression, perception, memory, and anxiety. To mediate this large array of physiologic processes, at least 14 separate 5-HT receptors have evolved, which are divided into seven main families. Not surprisingly, alterations of 5-HT receptor activity have been shown to occur in many psychiatric diseases including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, schizophrenia, personality disorders, and many drug-induced psychotic states. Additionally, a number of effective psychopharmacologic agents for diseases as diverse as schizophrenia and anxiety have been developed which either specifically alter brain levels of serotonin or bind to 5-HT receptor subtypes. This review article summarizes recent advances in the burgeoning field of serotonin receptor pharmacology and integrates this information into a coherent perspective on the importance of serotonergic agents for clinical psychiatry.