A new study on SSRI antidepressant side effects reveals that an EEG-based test would measure the serotonin level in the brain, indicating that individuals who experience sexual side effects. According to the results of research, people with higher serotonin levels before treatment and currently on the treatment of antidepressants would have significant difficulty in reaching orgasm. The ability to have an erection or orgasm is linked to serotonin levels in the brain. The research has identified that this relation applies to patients taking SSRI antidepressants.
Read More: Growing Usage of Antidepressants Can be Lethal
LDAEP Test
Loudness Dependence of Auditory Evoked Potentials (LDAEP) is a known test that helps doctors make an individualised plan to reduce side effects. In this test, sounds are played through headphones at different volumes while measuring brain waves. It is non-invasive and takes 30 minutes. It would improve both treatment adherence and patients’ quality of life by transforming how clinicians prescribe antidepressants.
Research Details
The study has been conducted over 90 individuals diagnosed with depression. The LDAEP special EEG test was used to measure serotonin activity in the brain. The lower the LDAEP the higher the serotonin activity. An 8-week course of SSRI antidepressants was given to the patients to teach their side effects. The research helps researchers in reviewing whether they can predict sexual problems based on LDAEP measurements.
According to Lead researcher Dr Kristian Jensen, Copenhagen University Hospital it was revealed in research that individuals with higher serotonin activity before treatment were more significant to develop sexual side effects after 8 week treatment.
Sexual Dysfunctioning
It is one of the common symptoms of depression. Almost 70% of the patients are taking SSRI medication such as escitalopram and Prozac. It includes difficulty in reaching an orgasm, maintaining an erection, and a reduction in desire. Though SSRIs could help in sexual dysfunction by improving mood, they are associated with sexual side effects according to research. These can be distressing, resulting in individuals stopping the treatment.
Application of Research
- Prediction Test – LDAEP may predict SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction by measuring serotonin activity in the brain before treatment.
- 87% Accuracy – research could predict orgasm difficulties in people taking treatment of depression.
- Prescribing medicines with minimizer side effects – this discovery makes practitioners choose antidepressants which allow them to regain or maintain an active sex life while undergoing the treatment of antidepressants.
Further Research wider
A wider research study on men is required to get accurate results for erectile dysfunction. The findings apply only to medication-induced sexual problems, not to general sexual difficulties. However, further research has been going on to understand the association between sex hormones and sexual functioning during depression and medication in over 600 patients. This work has been presented in Amsterdam at the ECNP conference.
Leave feedback about this