For many people living with depression and anxiety, one of the hardest parts of treatment is waiting to feel better.
Antidepressants are often prescribed to help improve mood and reduce anxiety, but patients are usually told that it may take several weeks or even months before they notice real changes.
New research now suggests that one of the world’s most commonly used antidepressants may start helping with certain emotional symptoms much earlier than previously believed.
Scientists at University College London (UCL) have found that sertraline, a widely prescribed antidepressant, may begin easing some important symptoms of depression and anxiety within only two weeks. Their findings were published in the journal Nature Mental Health.
Sertraline belongs to a group of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. These drugs work by increasing the amount of serotonin available in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical messenger that helps regulate mood, emotions, sleep, and anxiety.
SSRIs are among the most commonly prescribed medicines for depression and anxiety disorders because they are generally considered safe and effective for many patients.
For years, researchers believed that antidepressants such as sertraline needed around 12 weeks before they produced noticeable improvements in depression symptoms. Earlier studies suggested that patients often experienced relief from anxiety and general well-being before improvements in low mood became clear.
The new study gives a more detailed picture of how sertraline works. The researchers looked at information from the PANDA trial, a large clinical study that was first published in 2019. That study found that sertraline improved anxiety symptoms and overall mental health after six weeks, but did not seem to significantly improve depression symptoms until week 12.
For the new analysis, the researchers used a more detailed approach that examined individual symptoms rather than viewing depression as a single condition. Depression affects different people in different ways. Some people struggle mainly with sadness and hopelessness.
Others may have problems sleeping, experience low self-worth, or feel constantly worried and restless. By studying specific symptoms separately, the scientists hoped to better understand when changes actually begin.
The researchers analyzed data from 571 participants who had complete records of their symptoms. All of the participants had mild to moderate depressive symptoms and were randomly assigned to receive either sertraline or a placebo for 12 weeks.
The results showed that some emotional symptoms started to improve surprisingly early. Within two weeks, people taking sertraline experienced reductions in low mood, feelings of self-hatred, restlessness, and even suicidal thoughts. These findings suggest that certain emotional benefits of the medication may appear much sooner than previously thought.
Lead researcher Dr. Giulia Piazza said the study provides a more complex understanding of how sertraline affects people. Instead of assuming that all symptoms improve at the same speed, the findings show that some symptoms respond earlier than others. She explained that symptoms often influence each other.
For example, poor sleep may reduce concentration, which can then affect a person’s confidence and self-esteem. Understanding these relationships could help doctors make treatment decisions that better fit individual patients.
The study also found that people taking sertraline experienced several side effects, including reduced appetite, tiredness, lower sex drive, and sleep problems. These side effects are commonly reported with antidepressants. However, they can be difficult to separate from the physical symptoms of depression itself because the two often overlap.
The researchers noticed that while emotional improvements and reductions in anxiety continued over time, the side effects tended to level off after about six weeks. This suggests that some of the unpleasant physical effects may become less troublesome while the mental health benefits continue to develop.
Professor Glyn Lewis, who led the original PANDA trial, said the findings offer further support for prescribing sertraline to people with depression and anxiety. He noted that knowing which symptoms are likely to improve first may help both doctors and patients make better-informed treatment decisions.
Senior researcher Professor Jean-Baptiste Pingault said the study highlights the importance of examining specific symptoms when developing and evaluating psychiatric treatments.
Knowing that some emotional symptoms can improve within only two weeks may also give patients encouragement during the early stages of treatment, when they often wonder whether the medicine is working.
The findings may eventually help make mental health care more personalized. Instead of expecting every symptom to improve at the same pace, doctors may be able to better explain what patients can expect during treatment and tailor care to each person’s unique experience.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about 6 foods you can eat to improve mental health, and B vitamins could help prevent depression and anxiety.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and results showing Omega-3 fats may help reduce depression.
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