A Study on the Neuropsychotropic Properties of Fluvoxamine Using Psychomotor Tests and Event-related Potentials

A cross-over, placebo-controlled study was performed to compare the neuropsychotropic properties of fluvoxamine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, with those of imipramine, using psychomotor tests (a flicker test and an auditory reaction time) and the event-related potential (P300 component) in 8 healthy adult males who voluntarily participated in this study. As a result, no remarkable difference in the P300 amplitude or in the P300 latency was observed among the test drugs. In contrast, the psychomotor tests revealed that fluvoxamine produced an increased critical flicker frequency compared with placebo or imipramine. In conclusion, fluvoxamine was demonstrated to increase the excitability of the central nervous system, with little influence on the brain's data processing as reflected by P300 component and the reaction processing.