NEW research by academics at the University of Limerick indicates that anti-depressants can help people take control over their lives, reducing feelings of helplessness and depression symptoms.
NEW research by academics at the University of Limerick indicates that anti-depressants can help people take control over their lives, reducing feelings of helplessness and depression symptoms.A study undertaken by researchers at UL, Harvard Medical School and the University of Oxford, saw a commonly prescribed dosage of an anti-depressant drug, escitalopram, administered for seven days to volunteers who were depressed or not depressed.
The drug used increases levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the central nervous system.
UL’s Lead researcher, psychologist Dr Rachel Msetfi explained, “Our new research adds to the understanding suggesting that anti-depressants affect our everyday behaviours and our learning about simple day-to-day activities, resulting over time in feelings of being more in control, less ‘ruled’ by the environment, and perhaps ultimately alleviating depression.”
After 7-days of either taking the drug or a placebo, volunteers took part in a computer-based game designed to test learning ability.
They were required to learn about how their actions could control events occurring in the game. Volunteers tested the effectiveness of their actions on numerous occasions (using keyboard presses) to check if they could control sound turning on. The researchers had ensured that, in all cases, the volunteers had no control over these events in the game.
by Alan Jacques
