A clinical trial reveals the first evidence of how the brain restructures physically in the first month on SSRIs—and the link between neuroplasticity and depression.

Professor Knudsen continued, “This points towards two main conclusions. Firstly, it indicates that SSRIs increase synaptic density in the brain areas critically involved in depression.

Using a new kind of neuroimaging tool, researchers have uncovered evidence to help explain how antidepressant medications work, and why they take so many weeks to kick in.

Professor Knudsen continued, "This points towards two main conclusions. Firstly, it indicates that SSRIs increase synaptic density in the brain areas critically involved in depression.

Discover how a groundbreaking study uncovers the relationship between antidepressants and brain plasticity, potentially leading to more effective treatments for depression.

The typical lag between treatment initiation with SSRIs for depression and enhanced mood may be because of the time it takes to increase brain synaptic density, new imaging data suggest.

Antidepressants—including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs—are widely prescribed for depression, anxiety, and DGBIs.

It also could lead to a more complete understanding of how fast-acting antidepressants (like ketamine) work and help researchers identify previously unknown targets for new antidepressant medications.

Li’s study, “TIAM1-mediated synaptic plasticity underlies comorbid depression-like and ketamine antidepressant-like actions in chronic pain," was recently published in The Journal of Clinical ...