The British Journal of Psychiatry (2008) 193: 267-269. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.108.050955
© 2008 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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EDITORIALS

Melatonin and its agonists: an update

Josephine Arendt, PhD, FRCPath

Centre for Chronobiology, School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK

Shantha M. W. Rajaratnam, PhD

School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Monash University, Victoria, Australia

Correspondence: Josephine Arendt, Centre for Chronobiology, School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK. Email: ArendtJo{at}aol.com

Declaration of interest

S.M.W.R has received research funding and unrestricted educational grants from Vanda Pharmaceuticals (developers of tasimelteon) and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America (developers of ramelteon). J.A. is a consultant to Alliance Pharmaceuticals, UK (currently developing melatonin formulations). She is a director of Stockgrand Ltd, University of Surrey, UK, a company that sells measurement technology for melatonin and other substances.

Josephine Arendt (pictured) is a chronobiologist and endocrinologist who has studied the physiology and pharmacology of melatonin. Shantha M. W. Rajaratnam is a chronobiologist and sleep researcher who has conducted clinical trials of melatonin and melatonin agonists.

The pineal hormone melatonin is able to shift the timing of circadian rhythms, including the sleep–wake cycle, and to promote sleep. Melatonin agonists with similar properties have therapeutic potential for the treatment of circadian rhythm sleep disorders. Depression is specifically targeted by agomelatine, which is also a serotonin-2C (5-HT2C) antagonist.


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