SSRIs are commonly used to treat what mental health issue?

SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are primarily designed to treat major depressive disorder by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain, which can help improve mood and alleviate symptoms of depression. They work by blocking the reabsorption (or reuptake) of serotonin in the brain, making more serotonin available to help regulate mood and emotional responses.

While SSRIs can also be beneficial for conditions like generalized anxiety disorder, their most established and widely studied use is in treating major depressive disorder. This is why the association with major depressive disorder is particularly strong within the context of SSRIs. In contrast, severe stress, while it can be related to anxiety and depression, is not a mental health disorder that SSRIs are specifically designed to treat. Similarly, chronic pain management typically falls outside the scope of SSRIs, as they are not primarily used for pain relief.