According to the findings of a novel study published in the Human Brain Mapping journal, subcortical network (SCN)– ventral attention network (VAN) connectivity might be a target of Escitalopram therapy and can be related to depressive state alterations. This between network connectivity at baseline has remarkable potential as a predictor of therapeutic response to serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Investigators assessed the impact of antidepressant agents on large-scale brain networks and the neural foundation of individual differences in the responses.

On the whole, 41 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) given Escitalopram and 42 healthy controls given a placebo were examined by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging independently at the baseline and after 12 weeks. Patients were categorized as those with remission i.e. MDDr (based on endpoint 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) total score of <7] and those in non-remission (MDDnr) after the antidepressant therapy.

For a better understanding, the large-scale networks and network resting-state functional connectivity were analyzed with the help of the human Brainnetome Atlas. After 12 weeks, the connectivity of SCN and VAN increased with the use of Escitalopram in patients with MDD. It was comparable with that of healthy controls. This alteration was only noted in MDDr-affected people. Following treatment, the decreased within-network resting-state functional connectivity in SCN and default mode network prevailed in all MDD patients with remission and non-remission.

In all the patients suffering from depression, the SCN–VAN connectivity at baseline was considerably negatively linked with the reduction rate of HAMD scores. The within-network resting-state functional connectivity in SCN and DMN might contemplate a trait-like abnormality in depressive patients who used Escitalopram. These discoveries provide additional information about the mechanism of antidepressants and how the responses vary.