title: Mood and personality effects in healthy participants after chronic administration of sertraline.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre and Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors: Julian G
authors: JG
authors: Simmons
authors: Nicholas B
authors: NB
authors: Allen
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality / Q000187:drug effects*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020280:Sertraline / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline