A cognitive neuropsychological model of antidepressant drug action

► Healthy volunteer models of emotional processing may be useful in explaining the psychological mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs. ► Behavioural and functional magnetic resonance imaging data support the idea that the remediation of negative biases may underlie antidepressant drug action. ► Although positive changes in emotional processing can be detected even after an acute dose of an antidepressant drug, interaction with the social environment is necessary for the relearning of emotional associations which fosters later improvement in mood.