Increased neural response to trauma scripts in posttraumatic stress disorder following paroxetine treatment: A pilot study

► Paroxetine, but not placebo, treatment is associated with increased OFC activation. ► Paroxetine and placebo treatments are both associated with increased activation in the ACC. ► SSRI treatment may act more specifically on orbitofrontal circuits that modulate fear extinction. ► These pilot data reveal putative mechanisms for SSRI treatment in PTSD. ► Our findings substantiate the need for further imaging studies of SSRI treatment in PTSD.