Tryptophan depletion and depressive vulnerability.
Biol Psychiatry
; 46(4): 498-505, 1999 Aug 15.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10459399
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Rapid and transient depletion of tryptophan (TRP) causes a brief depressive relapse in most patients successfully treated with and taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, but little change in drug-free, symptomatic depressed patients. This study investigates the effects of TRP depletion in drug-free subjects in clinical remission from a prior major depressive episode (MDE).METHODS:
Twelve subjects with a prior MDE, currently in clinical remission and drug-free for at least 3 months (patients), and 12 healthy subjects without personal or family history of Axis I disorder (controls), received TRP depletion. The study was conducted in a double-blind, controlled [full (102-g) and quarter-strength (25 g) 15-amino acid drinks], crossover fashion. Behavioral ratings and plasma TRP levels were obtained prior to, during, and after testing.RESULTS:
All subjects experienced significant depletion of plasma TRP on both test-drinks, showing a significant dose-response relation. Healthy control subjects had minimal mood changes, but patients had a depressive response of greater magnitude.CONCLUSIONS:
In the context of prior TRP depletion studies with antidepressant-treated, and drug-free symptomatic depressed patients, these results suggest that depression may be caused not by an abnormality of 5-HT function, but by dysfunction of other systems or brain regions modulated by 5-HT.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Tryptophan
/
Serotonin
/
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
/
Depression
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Biol Psychiatry
Year:
1999
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: