Mood and personality effects in healthy participants after chronic administration
of sertraline.
Author(s): Simmons JG, Allen NB.
Affiliation(s): Orygen Youth Health Research Centre and Psychological Sciences, University of
Melbourne, Australia.
Publication date & source: 2011, J Affect Disord. , 134(1-3):377-85
BACKGROUND: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are utilised in the
treatment of a wide range of disorders but the neuropsychological basis of their
therapeutic efficacy remains unclear. In this study we examine the impact of 3
weeks administration of sertraline, an SSRI, on mood and personality in a group
of healthy volunteers to understand the effect of these agents in the absence of
clinical disorder.
METHODS: Thirty-eight healthy women and men, with no personal or familial history
of Axis I disorder were randomised to receive either a placebo or sertraline
(50mg/day p.o.) for an average of 23 days, in a double-blind design. Self-report
indices of mood and personality, and genotype (5-HTTLPR) and sertraline
bioavailability were assessed.
RESULTS: Chronic administration of an SSRI was found to alter mood and
personality. The SSRI group experienced a significant decrease in negative affect
(NA), guilt and attentiveness, and significant increases in positive affect (PA),
joviality, self-assurance and serenity. Genotype and bioavailability of
sertraline did not moderate these findings, however gender did. Only females
demonstrated increased PA and joviality, and decreased NA; whereas, only males
demonstrated decreased attentiveness.
LIMITATIONS: Greater power and a more specific manipulation of serotonergic
functioning would help clarify the neurochemical basis of these findings.
CONCLUSIONS: Results from the current study demonstrate that longer term
administration of SSRIs alters aspects of mood and personality in the absence of
disorder. This suggests that these agents have effects on basic psychological
processes that may in turn form the basis of their therapeutic efficacy.
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