Antidepressants affect how the brain processes internal sensations, study finds

A recent study published in Translational Psychiatry reveals that a single dose of a common antidepressant, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, can alter how the brain processes internal bodily sensations, particularly in anxious individuals. The research aimed to understand how serotonin influences interoception, the sensing of internal bodily states. The study involved 31 healthy participants who underwent a double-blind experiment with citalopram and a placebo. Results showed that citalopram reduced neural responses to internal bodily sensations, indicating a moderating effect on the brain's processing. Notably, the study found that serotonin's impact on interoception is influenced by anxiety levels. The findings suggest that serotonin plays a role in modulating how the brain processes sensations from the body, potentially affecting anxiety levels. However, the study only examined the short-term effects of citalopram, prompting the need for further research on the long-term implications of serotonin modulation on interoception and its therapeutic potential in mental health conditions.