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A single dose of antidepressant alters eye-gaze patterns across face stimuli in healthy women

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Abstract

Background

Early neurocognitive changes in emotional processing are seen following SSRI administration, which may be involved in mechanisms of action. However, the perceptual processes underpinning these effects have not been specified.

Methods

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled eye-tracking study, we assessed the effect of single dose of citalopram (20 mg) in 25 healthy females. Face stimuli with direct and averted gaze were presented while visual scan patterns and pupil sizes were monitored. Subjective state was monitored using visual analogue scales.

Results

There were no significant effects of citalopram on subjective state. However, the citalopram group displayed increased saccade numbers and shorter fixation duration during face viewing compared to the placebo group. Volunteers receiving citalopram also showed reduced monitoring of the eye region irrespective of the direct or averted eye position of the stimuli. The citalopram group also showed significantly larger pupil sizes than the control group.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the SSRI administration affects the perceptual processing of face stimuli. The current pattern of findings is consistent with anxiogenic-like mechanisms early on in SSRI treatment. Eye-tracking provides a novel method to characterise and detect these effects.

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Acknowledgments

The data acquisition for this project was aided by the invaluable contributions from PSYC2102, Group 5, Spring 2013.

Financial disclosures

The project was not supported by any external grants. CJH is a director of Oxford Psychologists and has received consultancy payments from Lundbeck, Lilly, Seriver and P1vital over the last 3 years. She holds shares in P1vital.

Ethical statement

The manuscript meets the guidelines for ethical conduct and report of research www.elsevier.com/wps/find/authorsview.authors/rights.

Conflict of interest

The authors report no direct conflict of interests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, PO Box 1097, Blindern, 0317, Oslo, Norway

    R. Jonassen, C. Harmer & N. I. Landrø

  2. Hedonic Pharmacology Group, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    O. Chelnokova & S. Leknes

  3. Psychopharmacology and Emotional Research Lab, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    C. Harmer

Authors
  1. R. Jonassen
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  2. O. Chelnokova
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  3. C. Harmer
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  4. S. Leknes
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  5. N. I. Landrø
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Jonassen.

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Jonassen, R., Chelnokova, O., Harmer, C. et al. A single dose of antidepressant alters eye-gaze patterns across face stimuli in healthy women. Psychopharmacology 232, 953–958 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-014-3729-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-014-3729-5

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