People who use antidepressants to increase serotonin levels in the brain are less likely to punish or harm other people, even for the common good, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The researchers, led by Molly Crockett from the University of Cambridge, conducted a study on 24 healthy volunteers who were given an antidepressant drug called citalopram. It belongs to the group of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) of which Prozac is the best known representative. Their effect is an increase in the level of serotonin in the brain, a compound that regulates, among other things, our mood and emotions.
It turned out that, compared to those receiving placebo, volunteers taking citalopram were less likely (by about 10%, the researchers calculated) to harm someone, even for the benefit of the public. For example, they wouldn’t want to sacrifice one person’s life to save five others.
The respondents also took part in a game in which they could either accept the other person’s proposal regarding the distribution of funds, or reject it when it was not very favorable. When they agreed everyone got their share of the money, when they refused everyone was left with nothing.
People who had an increased level of serotonin in the brain under the influence of the drug preferred to accept the unfavorable offer of the other participant rather than punish their greed with a refusal.
As Molly Crockett comments, SSRI antidepressants are among the most commonly prescribed drugs, especially in Western countries, so it is very important to analyze their impact on people’s social behavior. (PAP)