SSRI Use Does Not Influence the Intensity of Romantic Love, Obsessive Thinking About a Loved One, Commitment, or Sexual Frequency in a Sample of Young Adults Experiencing Romantic Love

Abstract

For more than 15 years, commentators have speculated that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use is associated with negative romantic love outcomes. No one has empirically investigated this, however. We used binary logistic regression to identify differences between young adults experiencing romantic love who were and were not taking SSRIs. Predictor variables were biological sex, mental health problems, intensity of romantic love, obsessive thinking about a loved one, commitment, and frequency of sex. Only biological sex and mental health problems were associated with SSRI use. None of our romantic love variables were associated with SSRI use. This is the first evidence to demonstrate that continued SSRI use probably does not negatively impact romantic love among many individuals who are in love. The findings have implications for clinical practice and can be used to allay concerns among individuals considering commencing SSRIs for common mental health problems.