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OBJECTIVE: The authors used magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to assess the effect of acute administration of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram on cortical levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). METHOD: Ten healthy volunteers received either intravenous citalopram (10 mg) or saline in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design. The occipital GABA/creatine ratio was measured with a proton MR spectral editing technique. RESULTS: In comparison with saline, citalopram produced a mean increase of 35% in relative brain GABA concentration in the occipital cortex. CONCLUSIONS: These findings extend previous work showing that SSRI treatment increases cortical GABA in depressed patients and suggest that this results from an action of SSRIs on GABA neurons rather than as a secondary consequence of mood improvement.

Original publication

DOI

10.1176/appi.ajp.161.2.368

Type

Journal article

Journal

Am J Psychiatry

Publication Date

02/2004

Volume

161

Pages

368 - 370

Keywords

Adult, Aged, Brain, Citalopram, Cross-Over Studies, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Double-Blind Method, Drug Administration Schedule, Female, Humans, Injections, Intravenous, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Male, Middle Aged, Occipital Lobe, Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors, gamma-Aminobutyric Acid