title: Management of depression with serotonin precursors.
abstract: 5-HT precursors are used in depressions on the basis of the 5-HT hypothesis--a hypothesis which postulates that a cerebral 5-HT deficiency can play a role in the pathogenesis of depressions. This article presents a survey of the results obtained by this therapeutic strategy. There are strong indications that 5-HTP is of therapeutic value, particularly in the 5-HT-deficient subgroup of vital depressions. In the same subgroup, one controlled study has so far also shown a prophylatic 5-HTP effect. The results of tryptophan studies are less unequivocal, possibly due to pharmacokinetic factors. Another possible explanation might be that, unlike 5-HTP research, tryptophan studies have so far disregarded the patient's serotonergic status. 5-HT research in depressions has also yielded the concept of the biochemical classifiability of depressions. This may become an important supplement to the conventional criteria of classification of depressions: symptomatology, etiology, and course.
mesh_terms: D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D014364:Tryptophan; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan