Serotonin Theory of Depression: Modern View

In development of the «serotonin» hypothesis of depression put forward by I.P. Lapin and G.F. Oxenkrug in 1969, the combination of the two factors is proposed which are responsible for depression formation: reduced “basal” 5-HT cerebral level and excessive duration of early morning REM sleep periods during which the release of cerebral serotonin ceases altogether. As a means of prevention and treatment, not the deprivation, but rather fragmentation of REM sleep is proposed, which is much easier for patients to tolerate.