Just One Dose Of Antidepressants Changes Brain Connectivity

Contrary to previous findings, a new study published in the journal Current Biology notes that a single dose of an antidepressant can create changes in the brain within just a few hours.

Based on brain scans taken by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Germany, researchers found that after patients took a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a commonly prescribed antidepressant, visible brain connectivity changes could be seen.

For the study, researchers examined 22 healthy participants who had never before taken antidepressants via a double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-way cross-over design study. The participants had three scanning sessions at a resting state. After the initial scan, they were either given a single dose of escitalopram (Lexapro) or a placebo. All underwent the second scan roughly three to four hours after the first.

Findings revealed that simply one dose of the SSRI was enough to change brain connectivity. Furthermore, the drug reduced the level of intrinsic connectivity in many brain regions. The cerebellum and the thalamus were the only areas were connectivity increased.

"The hope that we have is that ultimately our work will help to guide better treatment decisions and tailor individualized therapy for patients suffering from depression," the researchers concluded, in a news release.