Changes in regional brain volumes in social anxiety disorder following 12 weeks of treatment with escitalopram.
It has been suggested that antidepressants, including the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have neurotrophic effects. Nevertheless, the impact of treatment with a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor on regional brain volumes in social anxiety disorder has not been studied. 11 subjects with social anxiety disorder completed magnetic resonance imaging both before and after 12-weeks of treatment with 20 mg/day escitalopram. No increases in structural grey matter were found, but there were decreases in bilateral superior temporal cortex, vermis and the left cerebellum volumes following 12 weeks of treatment with escitalopram. These preliminary findings require replication to determine their reliability, and extension to determine whether or not they are disorder specific.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa.
Naseema
N
Cassimjee
Jean-Pierre
JP
Fouche
Michael
M
Burnett
Christine
C
Lochner
James
J
Warwick
Patrick
P
Dupont
Dan J
DJ
Stein
Karen J
KJ
Cloete
Paul D
PD
Carey
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
D015283:Citalopram; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors