Depression and serotonin metabolism: rationale for neurotransmitter precursor treatment.
The authors review evidence suggesting that some depressed patients have disturbances in serotonin metabolism. Research supporting the serotonin hypothesis includes: cerebrospinal fluid studies; postmortem examination of neurotransmitters, their metabolites, and their receptors; platelet studies; neuropharmacologic data; neuroendocrine perturbations; and reports that serotonin precursor compounds (tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan) may benefit some depressed patients. The authors conclude that better designed studies are needed to test whether serotonin precursor compounds have antidepressant properties.
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WF
Byerley
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SC
Risch
D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000378:metabolism; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000172:deficiency; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000378:metabolism; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D012701:Serotonin; D007980:Levodopa; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D014364:Tryptophan; D013972:Thyrotropin; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine