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Journals / Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eczacılık Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Volume: 45 Issue: 1

The Epigenetic Effects Associated with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Treatment

Ayla Kenar(İSTANBUL ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0009-0001-4074-4704
Merve Arici(İSTİNYE ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-5850-1578
Fedaa Abo Ras(İSTANBUL ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-2290-1622
Mahmoud Abudayyak(ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF PHARMACY)0000-0003-2286-4777
Pages
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Publication Date
2025-03-01
DOI
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

This review examines the impact of SSRI exposure on epigenetic modifications.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Depression is the most predominant psychiatric disorder worldwide.
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Key Findings & Data:Numerous studies have reported correlations between epigenetic modifications in genes such as BDNF, MAOA, SLC6A4, HTR1A, and HTR1B, as well as genome-wide methylation patterns, and treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in adult patients.
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Conclusion & Impact:This review examines the impact of SSRI exposure on epigenetic modifications.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors · epigenetic modifications · methylation.

Abstract

Depression is the most predominant psychiatric disorder worldwide. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are well-known drugs among the extensively used antidepressants. Additionally, SSRIs are used in the treatment of other behavioral disorders. The etiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) involves gene- environment interactions. Epigenetic modifications have a crucial role in managing treatment and prognostic benefits. It was shown that there is a clear relationship between SSRIs and epigenetic modifications. The epigenetic mechanisms underlying antidepressant drug treatment remain incompletely understood. Numerous studies have reported correlations between epigenetic modifications in genes such as BDNF, MAOA, SLC6A4, HTR1A, and HTR1B, as well as genome-wide methylation patterns, and treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in adult patients. Similarly, evidence suggests that prenatal and early-life exposure to SSRIs is associated with adverse outcomes, potentially affecting a child’s physiological, emotional, and psychological development by altering methylation patterns in specific genes compared to non-exposed ones. These findings point to the potential use of epigenetic profiles as biomarkers to predict antidepressant treatment response, as well as to explain their toxicities and side effects. This review examines the impact of SSRI exposure on epigenetic modifications.

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Cite This Article

Kenar, A., Arici, M., Ras, F. A., Abudayyak, M. (2025). The Epigenetic Effects Associated with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Treatment. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eczacılık Fakültesi Dergisi, Volume: 45 Issue: 1. https://ajindex.com/articles/1489295

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