Brain 5-HT function in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Prolactin responses to d-fenfluramine.
BACKGROUND
Drugs that potentiate brain serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission are effective in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but it is unclear whether disturbances in brain 5-HT function play a role in the pathophysiology of OCD.


METHODS
We studied the prolactin response to the selective 5-HT releasing agent d-fenfluramine in 14 non-depressed, drug-free OCD patients, and 14 healthy controls matched for age and gender.


RESULTS
The prolactin response to d-fenfluramine was significantly increased in OCD patients compared with controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The disparate results of studies of 5-HT neuroendocrine function in OCD make it unlikely that disturbances of brain 5-HT function play a central role in the pathophysiology of OCD. Increased brain 5-HT neurotransmission in non-depressed OCD subjects may represent an adaptive neurobehavioural mechanism which can be amplified to therapeutic advantage by treatment with 5-HT potentiating drugs.
Fineberg
N A
NA
St Mary's Hospital, London.
Roberts
A
A
Montgomery
S A
SA
Cowen
P J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
D018490:Serotonin Agents; D005277:Fenfluramine; D012701:Serotonin; D011388:Prolactin