title: Tryptophan depletion in obsessive-compulsive patients.
abstract: Twelve patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder were studied after the administration of a mixture of amino acids devoid of tryptophan (TRP) or a mixture containing all the essential amino acids, in a double-blind, crossover design. The TRP-free mixture caused a marked depletion of plasma TRP. After TRP decrease, mean ratings of obsessions and compulsions, measured by Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) ratings, did not worsen. In contrast with other reports in literature, TRP depletion also failed to alter mood in our subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatric Sciences, S. Raffaele Hospital, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smeraldi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Diaferia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Erzegovesi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucca
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bellodi
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Moja
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000601:Amino Acids, Essential / Q000494:pharmacology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D000601:Amino Acids, Essential; D014364:Tryptophan