title: Increased occipital cortex GABA concentrations in depressed patients after therapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies have demonstrated low concentrations of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the plasma and CSF of individuals with major depression, and low GABA concentrations have also been found in the occipital cortex of depressed subjects. The goal of this study was to determine whether these occipital cortex GABA concentrations are altered after administration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the treatment of depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  By means of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, occipital cortex GABA concentrations were measured in 11 medication-free depressed patients before initiation of treatment with SSRI medications and after an average of 2 months of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant increase in occipital cortex GABA concentrations was seen after SSRI treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SSRI treatment of major depression is associated with increased occipital cortex GABA concentrations. This appears to result in a normalization of low pretreatment GABA concentrations, an effect that may contribute to a common mechanism of antidepressant action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. gerard.sanacora@yale.edu
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sanacora
authors.forename: Graeme F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Douglas L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Rothman
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Krystal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000187:drug effects*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid