THE SSRI ANTIDEPRESSANTS - EXPLORING THEIR OTHER POSSIBLE PROPERTIES

Background: Anecdotal reports suggest that the SSRIs may have importan t properties in addition to their antidepressant effects, possibly mod ifying mediating variables that dispose to and maintain depression. Th is preliminary study seeks to identify any such potential variables. M ethods: Fifty three subjects who had reported substantial general bene fit to their clinician after treatment with an SSRI were requested to retrospectively rate change across a range of constructs assessed by q uestionnaire. Results: Differential effects were identified. Irritabil ity, trait depression, worry and neuroticism scores showed the most ma rked improvement, with cognitive style components also showing signifi cant positive change. Equally importantly, there was no evidence of a positive response bias across all constructs. Conclusion: We suggest t hat the SSRIs may act as ''antiworry'' agents and reduce irritability, neuroticism and dysfunctional attributions. Limitations: Our study wa s retrospective and relied on self-report by volunteer patients who ha d been previously depressed. The study design cannot exclude the possi bility that improvement reported on a number of measures may have been due to the amelioration of residual depression. Clinical relevance: T he SSRIs, recognised as having antidepressant and anti-obsessional pro perties, may also have the capacity to lower irritability, worrying an d neuroticism. This capacity could be useful per se but may, in additi on, reduce the occurrence and duration of depressive episodes, particu larly by reducing ''anxious worrying''. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.