Effects of Vortioxetine and Escitalopram on Electroencephalographic Recordings – A Randomized, Crossover Trial in Healthy Males. (1st January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nissen, Thomas Dahl; Laursen, Bettina; Viardot, Geoffrey; l'Hostis, Philippe; Danjou, Philippe; Sluth, Lasse Breuning; Gram, Mikkel; Bastlund, Jesper Frank; Christensen, Søren Rahn; Drewes, Asbjørn Mohr
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience. Volume 424(2020)
• Page Start: 172
• Page End: 181
• Publication Date: 2020-01-01
• Subjects: ASSR auditory steady state response -- EEG electroencephalography -- fMRI functional magnetic resonance imaging -- GABA gamma-aminobutyric acid -- MDD major depressive disorder -- PLI phase-lag index -- qEEG quantitative EEG -- rs-fMRI resting-state fMRI -- SERT serotonin transporter -- SNRI serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor -- SSRI selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor; electroencephalography -- neuroimaging -- vortioxetine -- escitalopram -- clinical trial; Neurochemistry -- Periodicals; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurochimie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurochemistry; Neurophysiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.09.039
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4522

Abstract

Highlights: Vortioxetine and escitalopram affects the neuronal processing differently. Treatments decreased the frequency content in the theta band. Treatments increased power in the beta, and gamma bands. Treatments affected neural communication in the theta and fast gamma bands. Treatments decreased power in the evoked gamma band during auditory stimulation. Abstract: The antidepressant drug vortioxetine has a multimodal action modulating neurotransmission through inhibition of the serotonin transporter and modulation of serotonin receptors. Vortioxetine has also been shown to alleviate cognitive symptoms in preclinical studies and in patients with depression. However, it is largely unclear how vortioxetine affects the brain processing in humans. The present study was conducted in 32 healthy males in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, active comparator, four-way crossover design. Treatments were 10 and 20 mg/day vortioxetine, 15 mg/day escitalopram, and placebo, administered orally once daily for three days. Results were compared to placebo. Treatment effect was assessed by recording spontaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and 40 Hz auditory steady state responses. For the spontaneous EEG, both vortioxetine and escitalopram decreased the frequency content in the theta band (4–8 Hz) and increased power in the beta (12–32 Hz) and gamma (32–45 Hz) bands. Vortioxetine and escitalopram decreased connectivity during rest in the theta band and increased connectivity in the gamma bands. Finally, both treatments caused decreased power in the evoked gamma band in response to 40 Hz auditory stimulation. Although the global EEG changes were comparable between vortioxetine and escitalopram, subtle differences between treatment effects on the EEG in terms of effect size and regional distribution of the EEG changes were apparent. To our knowledge, the current results are the first data on how vortioxetine affects EEG in humans. The present study calls for further investigations addressing the possible electrophysiological and cognitive effects of vortioxetine.