title: Acute tryptophan depletion: a method of studying antidepressant action.
abstract: Serotonin (5-HT) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of depressive syndromes and in the mechanism of antidepressant drug action. Rapid dietary depletion of tryptophan (TRP) provides a paradigm for studying the role of 5-HT in depressed patients. Drug-free depressed patients do not show mood changes during TRP depletion but about one third have a clinically apparent, transient improvement in mood on return to normal TRP intake. Depressed patients in clinical remission after 6 to 8 weeks of antidepressant therapy experience a transient depressive relapse during acute TRP depletion. The significance of these findings will be discussed. Tryptophan depletion in other psychiatric syndromes will also be reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Salomon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Licinio
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Charney
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012107:Research Design; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan