Depresi merupakan salah satu penyebab morbiditas dan mortalitas yang paling sering, diperkirakan 10-15% penduduk dunia pernah mengalami episode depresi selama hidupnya. Patofisiologi depresi kompleks dan melibatkan tingkat molekuler, seluler dan jaringan. Salah satu teori mekanisme depresi dan kerja antidepresan adalah proses neurogenesis. Neurogenesis pada masa dewasa di gyrus dentatus hippocampus dipengaruhi oleh stres yang berperan dalam patofisiologi depresi; proses neurogenesis ini dapat dimodulasi oleh antidepresan sehingga dapat dimanfaatkan untuk penatalaksanaan depresi. Antidepresan tersebut adalah Selective Serotonine Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) dan Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (NRIs).Depression is one of the most common causes of mortality and morbidity; it is estimated that 10-15% of world population ever experienced an episode of depression. The pathophysiology of depression is very complex involving mechanism in the molecular and cellular level. The neurogenesis hypothesis postulates that decreased neurogenesis results in depressive phenotype and that neurogenesis is crucial for the behavioural effect of antidepressant. Decreased adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus is induced by stress. Modulation of neurogenesis in this area through administration of antidepressant such as SSRIs and NRIs has been used for the treatment of depression.