Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation syndrome is associated with a rostral anterior cingulate choline metabolite decrease: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging study

Background The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) discontinuation syndrome (DS) is an important potential complication of treatment for major depression. We hypothesized that SSRI treatment discontinuation, resulting in change in clinical state, would be associated with reduced rostral anterior cingulate choline (Cho) metabolite ratios. Methods Individuals with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of unipolar major depression who had been stabilized on paroxetine (n = 13) or fluoxetine (n = 13) were study subjects. They were monitored for change in clinical state (mood ratings, discontinuation symptoms) and underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging of the rostral anterior cingulate 3 days after medication substitution with active SSRI and placebo. Results Placebo-day Cho/Cre (choline/total creatine) metabolite ratios were decreased in four paroxetine and two fluoxetine subjects meeting DS criteria, as compared with asymptomatic subjects (Mann-Whitney z = −2.31, p = .021). Conclusions Discontinuation syndrome is associated with a rostral anterior cingulate Cho/Cre metabolite ratio decrease that may reflect dynamics of rostral anterior cingulate function.