Hou R, et al. - Using a prospective cohort design, researchers determined how peripheral inflammatory cytokines in patients with first episode generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are influenced by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This is the first investigation addressing this topic. Overall 42 patients with first episode GAD were included. Participants were treated with either escitalopram or sertraline for 12 weeks. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to measure anxiety. In GAD, SSRIs showed moderate acute anti-inflammatory impacts, which may underlie anxiolytic influences of SSRIs. Treatment response could be predicted by serum levels of CRP and IL-6. After treatment of SSRIs, Baseline levels of anxiety and pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IFN-γ, and CRP were significantly lower.