Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor - a class of antidepressant medications that increase serotonin levels in the brain by preventing its reabsorption. Used primarily to treat depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
Acronym coined in the 1980s when these drugs were developed. 'Selective' refers to their specific action on serotonin (versus older antidepressants that affected multiple neurotransmitters), 'reuptake' describes the recycling process they block, and 'inhibitor' means they stop this process.
SSRIs revolutionized mental health treatment because they're much safer than older antidepressants - you can't easily overdose on them! They work on the principle that depression might be like having 'low serotonin signal strength,' so instead of making more serotonin, they make the existing serotonin work longer and more effectively.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.