Positive effect, but no immediate improvement in symptoms

Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric illnesses worldwide. There is evidence that both the amygdala and the dorsomedial cortex are involved in the pathophysiology. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) remain the cornerstone of pharmacological treatment for anxiety disorders, but their neurobiological mechanisms are not yet fully understood. An international research group has now investigated the early neuronal effects of escitalopram on brain activation and connectivity.