Research article summary (published 30 Jan 1977):

The Harold E. Himwich Memorial Lecture. Significance of biochemical parameters in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of depressive disorders.

Full Abstract

There is a suggestive evidence for a relationship between central 5-HT and the occurrence of certain types of depressions. This evidence is derived from three sources: postmortem studies; measurement of CSF 5-HIAA; accumulation of CSF 5-HIAA after transport blockade by probenecid. Disturbances of central 5-HT metabolism are not typical for any depression but for certain types of vital (endogenous) depression. This implies that the group of vital depression, though tending towards homogeneity in terms of symptomatology, is heterogenous in biochemical terms and comprises patients with and without disorders in central 5-HT metabolism. It is plausible that disorders of the 5-HT metabolism play a role in the pathogenesis of depression, instead of resulting from them. This statement is based on the following findings: (i) 5-HTP can abolish or alleviate the depressive syndrome or some of its elements. (ii) This 5-HTP effect can be potentiated by clomipramine (Anafranil), a relative selective inhibitor of 5-HT reuptake. (iii) There exists a negative correlation between 5-HT turnover in the CNS and the therapeutic effect of clomipramine. The alleged distrurbances in central 5-HT are more likely to be predisposing than of direct causative significance. This assumption is based on two observations: (i) In more that 50% of cases, the 5-HT turnover remains low after clinical recovery, the patient being drug-free. (ii) There is suggestive evidence that abolition of the 5-HT deficit (by means of 5-HTP) exerts a prophylactic effect in uni-and bipolar depression.

Author information

Author/s: Praag, H M (HM);

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Biological psychiatry (Biol Psychiatry), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1977-Feb; vol 12 (issue 1) : pp 101-31

Dates: Created 1977/04/30; Completed 1977/04/30; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 300032, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

5-Hydroxytryptophan - therapeutic use Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic - therapeutic use Autopsy Bipolar Disorder - drug therapy Brain Chemistry Central Nervous System - metabolism Depression - diagnosis; drug therapy; metabolism Homovanillic Acid - metabolism

Humans Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid - metabolism Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol - metabolism Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors - therapeutic use Norepinephrine - metabolism Serotonin - metabolism; therapeutic use Serotonin Antagonists Vanilmandelic Acid - metabolism

Associated Chemicals: Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic (0) ; Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (0) ; Serotonin Antagonists (0) ; Homovanillic Acid (306-08-1) ; Serotonin (50-67-9) ; Norepinephrine (51-41-2) ; Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol (534-82-7) ; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid (54-16-0) ; Vanilmandelic Acid (55-10-7) ; 5-Hydroxytryptophan (56-69-9)

Related articles

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

• Tricyclic antidepressant pharmacology and therapeutic drug interactions updated. 28 Apr 2007
• [Pain and depression] 13 May 2006
• Pruritus and fatigue associated with liver disease: is there a role for ondansetron? 28 Feb 2008
• Selective 5-HT6 receptor ligands: progress in the development of a novel pharmacological approach to the treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders. 28 Oct 2007
• Serotonin catabolism in the central and enteric nervous systems of rats upon induction of serotonin syndrome. 29 Sep 2007
• Central nervous system circuitry and peripheral neural sympathetic activity responsible for essential hypertension. 30 Oct 2006
• Ejaculatory dysfunction and depression: pharmacological and psychobiological interactions. 30 Aug 2006
• Genetic polymorphisms in monoamine neurotransmitter systems show only weak association with acute post-surgical pain in humans. 16 Jul 2006
• Emerging drugs for premature ejaculation. 27 Feb 2006
• 5-Hydroxytryptamine-mediated increase in glutamate uptake by the leech giant glial cell. 29 Nov 2006

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a large map of 100+ related articles.