Can Antidepressants of the SSRI Type Change the Normal Personality Type?

Overview

Sixty-two patients were treated in the out-patient department because of depressive disorder,panic anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder withSSRI for a period longer than 18 months. Eight women of this group mentioned spontaneouslythat from young age they cried during moving scenes in the theatre, cinema or on television. Thisdisappeared during long-term administration of SSRI.This vegetatively manifested disorder (VPE) can be considered a normal personality trait. Phar-macological manipulation with serotonin transmission led to a loss of this personality trait - atleast temporarily. This clinical observation stimulated reflections on the participation of genesregulating serotonin neurotransmission in the shaping of personality traits.

Key words:
SSRI, personality traits, crying.