Traumatic stress, dissociation, and limbic irritability in patients with unipolar depression being treated with SSRIs

Psychol Rep. 2010 Dec;107(3):685-96. doi: 10.2466/02.15.16.PR0.107.6.685-696.

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests that stressful experiences may be related to deficits in inhibitory functions and temporo-limbic epileptic-like activity. The latter may produce psychosensory seizure-like symptoms that may also appear in nonepileptic conditions. This study assesses whether the increased presence of the seizure-like symptoms in 113 unipolar depressive patients treated with SSRIs is associated with significantly more severe symptoms of depression, traumatic stress, and dissociation in comparison with 86 healthy controls. Results indicate that seizure-like symptoms in depressive patients have significant association with depression, symptoms of dissociation, and traumatic stress. This association suggests that processess generating seizure-like symptoms may be related to symptoms of depression, traumatic stress, and dissociation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Depressive Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology*
  • Dissociative Disorders / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Life Change Events
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Psychometrics
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Self Report
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors