2026 Overview: What Antidepressants Do

Antidepressants are prescription medications used to treat major depressive disorder and several related conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and some chronic pain syndromes. In 2026, the clinical conversation around antidepressants is more precise than it was a decade ago. Prescribers increasingly use symptom measurement, side-effect…