Serotonin Synthesis Amplification to Augment the Therapeutic Efficacy of Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Antidepressants: Five Decades of Clinical Evidence

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) are a common treatment for major depressive disorder, but they are inadequate for many patients. An article published in the July-August 2026 issue reviews decades of evidence suggesting that their effects may be improved by developing medications, based on candidate compounds, that are specifically designed to increase the brain's ability to make more serotonin.    In this podcast, Dr. Stephania Chaikali discusses the promise of a two-step strategy of both increasing brain supply of serotonin and blocking its reuptake. Dr. Chaikali is a research clinical fellow in psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her coauthor is Jacob Jacobsen, PhD, of Evecxia Therapeutics, Inc. The article is titled "Serotonin Synthesis Amplification to Augment the Therapeutic Efficacy of Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Antidepressants: Five Decades of Clinical Evidence."    Article doi: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000002180