Does an antidepressants affect the brain?

antidepressants
A recent study stated that just a dose of an antidepressants could immediately alter the way the human brain cells communicate with each other. This theory was placed published online on the 18th of September in Current Biology. This finding has been a step forward in underadjusting the human brain when it comes in contact with an antidepressant. However, the ultimate goal of the study is to understand which people who are suffering from depression will benefit from the drug while on the other hand which people would fare better.

In the study, the researchers found that just a single dose of an antidepressant called escitalopram caused a temporary fall or reduction in the connectivity among the brain cells in almost all part of the brain. The cerebellum is known to coordinate with the body’s voluntary movements. It is the thalamus that is involved in the movements, sleep and sensory information like seeing, hearing and touching.

The sad part is that it is very difficult to understand that which patient will respond to the medication even though there is a huge stock of antidepressant. A brain scan could probably help in finding the patients likelihood of responding to the drug given to him. However, a lot of research needs to be done in order to understand that brain scan could be used to guide anyone’s treatment.

One would often wonder as to is there any difference between the brain of a depressed person and a not so depressed person or how do they differ actually? To conclude on such matter a study was conducted with 22 healthy young adults. These adults went through an MRI scan. The scan showed the chart blood flow in the brain. The blood flow in the brain shows the brain’s electrical activity. And one scan was done after a dose of lexapro. While the third scan was done after three hours from the dose of placebo pill.

A change in the brains connectivity was seen. But the effects takes at least a weeks time to show. The findings later stated that SSRI affects the brain connectivity which leads to changes in the entire brain. So maybe this change is what states that the drug is working and helping the patient to recover.