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Short-term antidepressant treatment modulates amygdala response to happy faces

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Abstract

Rationale

We have previously demonstrated that antidepressant medication facilitates the processing of positive affective stimuli in healthy volunteers. These early effects of antidepressants may be an important component in the therapeutic effects of antidepressant treatment in patients with depression and anxiety.

Objectives

Here we used functional magnetic resonance imaging in a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled between-groups design to investigate the effects of short-term (7–10 days) treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, citalopram, on the amygdala response to positive and negative facial expressions in healthy volunteers.

Results

Citalopram was associated with increased amygdala activation to happy faces relative to placebo control, without changes in levels of mood or anxiety.

Conclusions

These early, direct effects of antidepressant administration on emotional processing are consistent with a cognitive neuropsychological model of antidepressant action.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychopharmacology Research Unit (PPRU), Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Neurosciences Building, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK

    Ray Norbury, Matthew J. Taylor, Sudhakar Selvaraj & Philip J. Cowen

  2. Psychopharmacology and Emotion Research Laboratory (PERL), Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Neurosciences Building, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK

    Susannah E. Murphy & Catherine J. Harmer

Authors
  1. Ray Norbury
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  2. Matthew J. Taylor
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  3. Sudhakar Selvaraj
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  4. Susannah E. Murphy
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  5. Catherine J. Harmer
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  6. Philip J. Cowen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ray Norbury.

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Norbury, R., Taylor, M.J., Selvaraj, S. et al. Short-term antidepressant treatment modulates amygdala response to happy faces. Psychopharmacology 206, 197–204 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-009-1597-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-009-1597-1

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