Antidepressants Like Paxil May Affect Personality

Antidepressants may do more than just treat depression; certain drugs may also directly impact personality traits. There are five main traits that are used to determine personality: neuroticism, extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness. For years, it has been assumed that the changes people experience in neuroticism and extraversion were a result of the antidepressant’s affect on their depression, but a new twin study has determined that the antidepressant may be acting directly on the personality traits.

Studies involving twins are significant because they share the same genetic factor for neuroticism and depression. This study specifically measured the way selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Paxil had on personality traits like neurotisim. The participants were divided into three groups; 120 patients received Paxil, 60 received a placebo, and 60 were given cognitive therapy.

At the end of the 8-week study, both the groups who were treated with medication and the group who received cognitive therapy had better success with their depression than those on the placebo. More importantly, however, neuroticism levels dropped in the two groups while levels of extravertism grew. Patients receiving Paxil, even when their depression was no more improved than those in the other groups, had changes in their extraversion levels four to eight times greater than the other groups, meaning the drug directly impacts personality and not just depression.

The concern, of course, is that SSRIs are not just lifting depression but actually altering a person’s personality. However, developing a better understanding of how SSRIs work may help mental health professionals understand better how to treat depression and reduce the risk of relapse.

Shadra Bruce is a contributing writer for Mental Health News.