Antidepressants cause brain cells to act like juveniles. A report this month in JAMA Psychiatry states that antidepressant medications induce “juvenile-like plasticity” in the adult cortex.

Basically, antidepressants help to sprout and reshape brain cells. This branching and reconnecting makes it easier for those using this medication to learn new behaviors – like how to cope with stress.

The report also notes that medications and counseling work well together. Antidepressants fertilize the field of brain cells, if you will, making it easier to grow new behaviors. Combining receptive brain cells with good counsel leads to better coping and, hopefully, improvements in work productivity and quality of relationships.

Castrén, Eero. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) – Psychiatry. September 2013