title: CSF 5-HIAA as a predictor of treatment response in trichotillomania.
abstract: Trichotillomania is characterized by chronic hair-pulling resulting in noticeable hair loss. In a preliminary study, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) measures in 8 medication-free, female, trichotillomania patients were compared to those of matched, normal controls. There was no difference between patients and controls in measures of CSF cortisol, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG). CSF measures did not correlate with measures of trichotillomania symptomatology. However, degree of response to treatment with serotonin re-uptake inhibitors significantly correlated with baseline CSF 5-HIAA. This suggests that central serotonin turnover is specifically relevant to treatment response to serotonin re-uptake inhibitors in trichotillomania.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Ninan
authors.forename: B O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Rothbaum
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stipetic
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lewine
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Risch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014256:Trichotillomania / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid