Mood disorders (depression, anxiety, PTSD)
Clinical depression, anxiety disorders, or PTSD — distinct from situational low mood or stress. Affects ~20% of adults at some point.
What changes during this transition
Mood disorders are clinical conditions with established first-line care — psychotherapy, evidence-based pharmacology (SSRIs/SNRIs, atypicals for treatment-resistant cases), and for PTSD specifically, trauma-focused therapy. Peptides relevant here either address deficiency-driven cases (B12-methylcobalamin where deficiency is the etiology — common in metformin/PPI users, vegans, post-bariatric, autoimmune gastritis) or function as adjuncts to psychiatric care. Oxytocin has the best-studied peptide case for psychiatric use in the library — moderate effect sizes (Hedges' g ~0.67 across mixed indications); strongest signal is augmenting psychotherapy and reducing PTSD symptom development when given early post-trauma. Cerebrolysin is registered for stroke and dementia in 50+ countries with emerging off-label depression substrate. Selank and semax sit in the Russian anxiolytic/nootropic tradition — Tier 3 in the source jurisdiction. None of these replace psychiatric care.
Important caveat
Mood disorders deserve clinical evaluation — peptides aren't a substitute. If you're in crisis or experiencing suicidal ideation, call 988 (US Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or your local emergency services. Bipolar spectrum: oxytocin has been associated with manic episodes — screen before starting any psychiatric peptide. Pregnancy: oxytocin is contraindicated (uterotonic). PTSD use of oxytocin requires clinician supervision — some paradigms show INTENSIFIED negative-memory recall.
Peptides editorially relevant to mood disorders (depression, anxiety, ptsd)
5 peptides from the library — each evidence-tiered honestly.
- CerebrolysinTier 2
Porcine-derived neuropeptide mixture
Multi-peptide cocktail from porcine brain, manufactured by EVER Pharma. Approved in Europe / Asia / Russia for ischemic stroke, dementia, and TBI. NOT US-approved. Tier 1/2 abroad in approved indications; Tier 3 for off-label use.
- SelankTier 3
Synthetic tuftsin analog (heptapeptide)
Russian-developed anxiolytic/nootropic peptide. Most clinical data is in Russian and methodologically thin by Western standards. Tier 3. Routes include intranasal — a natural pair with Juno's nasal-spray prep guide.
- SemaxTier 3
Synthetic ACTH(4-10) analog (heptapeptide)
Russian-developed nootropic and neuroprotective peptide. Registered there as a prescription product for stroke; most of the clinical evidence is Russian-language and not independently replicated outside that body of work.
- OxytocinTier 1
Posterior-pituitary neuropeptide
The labor-induction hormone (Pitocin), FDA-approved since 1962. Off-label nasal and subcutaneous use — for autism social cognition, 'bonding,' anxiolysis — has loud community framing but a messier and partly negative randomized-trial literature.
- B12 (Methylcobalamin)Tier 1
Vitamin (methylcobalamin)
Vitamin B12 in the methyl form. Solid evidence for treating documented deficiency and pernicious anemia. The wellness-clinic 'energy injection' market for non-deficient adults has no clinical-trial support.
Want this list to grow? The library is editorial — if there’s a peptide you think belongs on this page with documented or mechanistically-clear evidence, send us a note with the citation and we’ll review it under the same evidence-tier discipline as every other entry.