Abnormal neural growth may explain why SSRI’s do not work in 30% of Depressed Individuals, a new study found.

Neurons from depressed people that do not respond to the SSRI treatment, which increases the communication between neurons by means of the messenger molecule serotonin, appear to develop longer neuron projections than those of patients that do respond to SSRI’s. This means that the communication between neurons in some parts of the brain could be stronger, but weaker in others.

Thus, the brain circuit that uses serotonin as a modulator of neuronal activity may not work properly in some depressed individuals, so that SSRI treatment does not alleviate depressive symptoms.

Read the full story: Salk Institute
Scientific publication: Molecular Psychiatry