BACKGROUND: Fluoxetine is generally regarded as the first-line pharmacological treatment for young people, as it is believed to show a more favourable benefit:risk ratio than other antidepressants. However, the mechanisms through which fluoxetine influences symptoms in youth have been little investigated. This study examined whether acute administration of fluoxetine in a sample of young healthy adults altered the processing of affective information, including positive, sad and anger cues. METHOD: A total of 35 male and female volunteers aged between 18 and 21 years old were randomized to receive a single 20 mg dose of fluoxetine or placebo. At 6 h after administration, participants completed a facial expression recognition task, an emotion-potentiated startle task, an attentional dot-probe task and the Rapid Serial Visual Presentation. Subjective ratings of mood, anxiety and side effects were also taken pre- and post-fluoxetine/placebo administration. RESULTS: Relative to placebo-treated participants, participants receiving fluoxetine were less accurate at identifying anger and sadness and did not show the emotion-potentiated startle effect. There were no overall significant effects of fluoxetine on subjective ratings of mood. CONCLUSIONS: Fluoxetine can modulate emotional processing after a single dose in young adults. This pattern of effects suggests a potential cognitive mechanism for the greater benefit:risk ratio of fluoxetine in adolescent patients.
BACKGROUND: Fluoxetine is generally regarded as the first-line pharmacological treatment for young people, as it is believed to show a more favourable benefit:risk ratio than other antidepressants. However, the mechanisms through which fluoxetine influences symptoms in youth have been little investigated. This study examined whether acute administration of fluoxetine in a sample of young healthy adults altered the processing of affective information, including positive, sad and anger cues. METHOD: A total of 35 male and female volunteers aged between 18 and 21 years old were randomized to receive a single 20 mg dose of fluoxetine or placebo. At 6 h after administration, participants completed a facial expression recognition task, an emotion-potentiated startle task, an attentional dot-probe task and the Rapid Serial Visual Presentation. Subjective ratings of mood, anxiety and side effects were also taken pre- and post-fluoxetine/placebo administration. RESULTS: Relative to placebo-treated participants, participants receiving fluoxetine were less accurate at identifying anger and sadness and did not show the emotion-potentiated startle effect. There were no overall significant effects of fluoxetine on subjective ratings of mood. CONCLUSIONS: Fluoxetine can modulate emotional processing after a single dose in young adults. This pattern of effects suggests a potential cognitive mechanism for the greater benefit:risk ratio of fluoxetine in adolescent patients.
Authors: Francisco J Flores-Ramirez; Lyonna F Parise; Jason B Alipio; Israel Garcia-Carachure; Samuel A Castillo; Minerva Rodriguez; Anapaula Themman; Omar Lira; Joshua Preciado-Piña; Sergio D Iñiguez Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2019-02-19 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: Alison K Merikangas; Lihong Cui; Monica E Calkins; Tyler M Moore; Ruben C Gur; Raquel E Gur; Kathleen R Merikangas Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2017-03-10 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: Richard M Stewart; Sean D Hood; Pradeep Rao; Julia K Moore; Kevin C Runions; Susannah E Murphy; Janice W Y Wong; Florian D Zepf Journal: Trials Date: 2018-08-10 Impact factor: 2.279