Serotonin precursors in the treatment of depression.
5-HT precursors are used in depressions on the basis of the 5-HT hypothesis - an 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 effect of clomipramine is potentiated by 1-5-HTP, and this combination can give good results in therapy-resistant vital depressions. Other tricyclic compounds have not been studied in this context, nor have selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitors. 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.
D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan