title: Sequential catecholamine and serotonin depletion in mirtazapine-treated depressed patients.
abstract: This study was aimed at determining whether patient- or antidepressant-related variables are most important to the mood response to serotonin (5-HT) or catecholamine depletion. Depressed patients treated with open-label mirtazapine (>or=6 wk) received two depletion tests (5-HT and catecholamine depletion) 1 wk apart. Both 5-HT and catecholamine depletion led to a partial return of depression in most patients. Antidepressant response to mirtazapine is dependent on its dual actions on norepinephrine and 5-HT neurotransmission. Mood response to tryptophan or catecholamine depletion is dependent on the pharmacological properties of the antidepressant being taken during depletion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Researve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106-5080, USA. delgado@uhhs.com
authors.forename: Pedro L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: Francisco A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Onate
authors.forename: Alan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gelenberg
mesh_terms: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000502:physiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000097:blood; D008803:Mianserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D002395:Catecholamines; D006719:Homovanillic Acid; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D008803:Mianserin; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D012701:Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D014364:Tryptophan