Psychiatry research within Organon Research Scotland focuses on Depression and Psychosis, but with further interests in other areas such as sleep disorders. Like many companies in this field, Organon's first entry into the arena of psychiatry occurred by chance. A drug originally conceived as a treatment for allergies was found to have antidepressant qualities. Later marketed as Tolvon®, it was one of the first of the second-generation antidepressants to avoid the risk of fatality in overdose and the many distressing side effects of earlier therapies. Since then, treatments of diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) have put Organon in the front line of mental health care and are viewed as a strong second pillar of the company's success. The investments in Organon's CNS Research in Scotland reflect the importance the company places on this area. Existing antidepressants are thought to work by modulating the levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine in the brain. Remeron®, the first noradrenergic and selective serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA), was discovered through Organon's own exploration of that modulatory mechanism. Its unique mechanism of action and tolerance by the patient explain why it has rapidly become a commercial success.

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