Short-term antidepressant treatment and facial processing: Functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Ray Norbury; Clare E Mackay; Philip J Cowen; Guy M Goodwin; Catherine J Harmer

doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.106.031393

Short-term antidepressant treatment and facial processing: Functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Ray Norbury, Clare E Mackay, Philip J Cowen, Guy M Goodwin, Catherine J Harmer

School of Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the effects of short-term treatment with reboxetine, a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, on emotional facial processing in healthy volunteers. Reboxetine was associated with a reduced amygdala response to fearful faces and increased activation to happy v. neutral facial expressions in the right fusiform gyrus, relative to placebo treatment and in the absence of changes in mood. Our results show that reboxetine modulates the neural substrates of emotional processing, highlighting a mechanism by which drug treatment could normalise negative bias in depression and anxiety.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	531-2
Number of pages	2
Journal	BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
Volume	190
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.106.031393
Publication status	Published - Jun 2007

Keywords

Antidepressive Agents
Facial Expression
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Morpholines
Pattern Recognition, Visual
Treatment Outcome

Access to Document

10.1192/bjp.bp.106.031393

Cite this

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title = "Short-term antidepressant treatment and facial processing: Functional magnetic resonance imaging study",

abstract = "We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the effects of short-term treatment with reboxetine, a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, on emotional facial processing in healthy volunteers. Reboxetine was associated with a reduced amygdala response to fearful faces and increased activation to happy v. neutral facial expressions in the right fusiform gyrus, relative to placebo treatment and in the absence of changes in mood. Our results show that reboxetine modulates the neural substrates of emotional processing, highlighting a mechanism by which drug treatment could normalise negative bias in depression and anxiety.",

keywords = "Antidepressive Agents, Facial Expression, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Morpholines, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Treatment Outcome",

author = "Ray Norbury and Mackay, {Clare E} and Cowen, {Philip J} and Goodwin, {Guy M} and Harmer, {Catherine J}",

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AU - Mackay, Clare E

AU - Cowen, Philip J

AU - Goodwin, Guy M

AU - Harmer, Catherine J

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AB - We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the effects of short-term treatment with reboxetine, a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, on emotional facial processing in healthy volunteers. Reboxetine was associated with a reduced amygdala response to fearful faces and increased activation to happy v. neutral facial expressions in the right fusiform gyrus, relative to placebo treatment and in the absence of changes in mood. Our results show that reboxetine modulates the neural substrates of emotional processing, highlighting a mechanism by which drug treatment could normalise negative bias in depression and anxiety.

KW - Antidepressive Agents

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KW - Humans

KW - Magnetic Resonance Imaging

KW - Male

KW - Morpholines

KW - Pattern Recognition, Visual

KW - Treatment Outcome

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