Study design
psychiatric
EVENTS, EPILEPSY, DISORDERS
The study was conducted in conjunction with a cross-sectional (i.e., single-scan), double-blinded, semi-randomized, placebo-controlled study (see Supplementary Fig SAll participants were recruited from a database of individuals who had expressed interest in participating in brain imaging studies. Following information about the study, including potential side effects of escitalopram, participants gave their written consent. Next, participants underwent a screening procedure, including medical history, physical and neurological examination, and screening for current or previous psychiatric disorders according to in- and exclusion criteria (see Supplementary file for complete list). Following the screening procedure and neuropsychological testing of IQ (assessed using the Reynolds Intellectual Screening Test (RIST) [Randomization balanced with regards to age, sex, and IQ was done by a research administrator not otherwise involved in data collection or analysis. Participants were instructed to take one capsule daily by mouth for three days and then increase to two capsules daily (i.e., full dose). The aim was an intervention period of a minimum 3 weeks, and for logistical purposes and to allow room for unforeseen events (e.g., illness or technical issues), participants could continue the intervention for up to 5 weeks. After the intervention period, all participants came in for extensive neuropsychological testing and MRI examination. On intervention day 10 and the day of neuropsychological testing and MRI, a blood sample was collected to measure s-escitalopram steady-state levels as confirmation of drug adherence. Participants were instructed only to take their daily dose of medication after the blood sample had been drawn. S-escitalopram was measured with an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS; Filadelfia Epilepsy Hospital, Dianalund, Denmark).The main study included 66 healthy participants, for which we have reported the neuropsychological outcomes [