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Early increase in marker of neuronal integrity with antidepressant treatment of major depression: 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy of N-acetyl-aspartate.
- Source :
- International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology; Nov2012, Vol. 15 Issue 10, p1541-1546, 6p
- Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- Increasing interest surrounds potential neuroprotective or neurotrophic actions of antidepressants. While growing evidence points to important early clinical and neuropsychological effects of antidepressants, the time-course of any effect on neuronal integrity is unclear. This study used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to assess effects of short-term treatment with escitalopram on N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), a marker of neuronal integrity. Thirty-nine participants with major depression were randomly assigned to receive either 10 mg escitalopram or placebo daily in a double-blind, parallel group design. On the seventh day of treatment, PRESS data were obtained from a 30×30×20 mm voxel placed in medial frontal cortex. Age and gender-matched healthy controls who received no treatment were also scanned. Levels of NAA were significantly higher in patients treated with escitalopram than in either placebo-treated patients (p<0.01) or healthy controls (p<0.01). Our findings are consistent with the proposition that antidepressant treatment in depressed patients can produce early changes in neuronal integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14611457
- Volume :
- 15
- Issue :
- 10
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 82361521
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1017/S1461145712000272