Cited by 500Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesTreatment of Major Depression

Selective Alteration of Personality and Social Behavior by Serotonergic Intervention

Knutson, Brian, Wolkowitz, Owen M., Cole, Steve W., Chan, Theresa, Moore, Elizabeth A., Johnson, Ronald C., Terpstra, Jan, Turner, Rebecca A. +1 more·1998·American Journal of Psychiatry

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to test the causal hypothesis that serotonergic function modulates aspects of the normal spectrum of individual differences in affective experience and social behavior in humans. METHOD: A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), paroxetine, 20 mg/day (N = 26), or placebo (N = 25) was administered to normal volunteers in a double-blind manner for 4 weeks, and personality variables and social behavior were assessed at baseline and at weeks 1 and 4 of treatment. RESULTS: Relative to placebo, SSRI administration reduced focal indices of hostility through a more general decrease in negative affect, yet did not alter indices of positive affect. In addition, SSRI administration increased a behavioral index of social affiliation. Changes in both negative affect and affiliative behavior were significantly related to volunteers' plasma SSRI levels at the end of the experiment. CONCLUSIONS: Central serotonergic function may modulate a dimension of normal personality characterized by reduced negative affective experience and increased affiliative behavior. SSRI administration has significant and detectable effects on these measures even in the absence of baseline clinical depression or other psychopathology.

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Crossref · 10.1176/ajp.155.3.373

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  • Paroxetine can diminish hostile behavior through a decrease in general negative affect.

    “Similarly, Knutson, Wolkowitz, Cole et al. [1998] find evidence that paroxetine can diminish hostile behavior through a decrease in general negative affect.”

    From Personality Psychology and Economics (2011) · cites this paper as Knutson, Wolkowitz, Cole et al. [1998]

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Authors
Knutson, B., Wolkowitz, O. M., Cole, S. W., Chan, T., Moore, E. A., Johnson, R. C., Terpstra, J., Turner, R. A., & Reus, V. I.
Affiliations
University of California, San Francisco (US)
Venue
American Journal of Psychiatry
Published
1998-03-01
Volume
155
Issue
3
Pages
373-379
ISSN
  • 0002-953X (ISSN-L)
  • 1535-7228
OpenAlex
W2170485939
Cited by
500
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 25
FWCI
8.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • American Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (MH18931, MH15750, T32MH015750, T32MH018931)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
Keywords
serotonergic function, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, paroxetine, personality, social behavior, negative affect, positive affect, hostility, social affiliation, normal volunteers
MeSH terms
Adult, Aggression, Brain, Double-Blind Method, Emotions, Female, Hostility, Humans, Male, Personality, Personality Inventory, Placebos, Serotonin, Social Behavior, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Paroxetine

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