Antidepressants, mood-stabilizing drugs, and mitochondrial functions: For better or for worse

Psychiatric manifestations of primary mitochondrial diseases are increasingly recognized, and optimal strategies for managing these represent a significant unmet clinical need for this group of patients with complex multisystem symptomatology and high mortality and morbidity. Secondary mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress have also been implicated in the pathophysiology of various psychiatric diseases. It has been well documented that medications used to treat neuropsychiatric disorders could directly modulate mitochondrial functions. The objective of this book chapter is to review antidepressant drugs and other psychiatric medications that are available for the treatment of psychiatric disorders and the evidence that exists in relation to the mitochondria using these drugs.