Predictors of mood response to acute tryptophan depletion. A reanalysis.
Acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) induces depressive symptoms in 50-60% of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treated, recovered depressed patients. However, no reliable predictors of mood response to ATD have been established. In the present study, individual subject data of six ATD studies were pooled ('mega-analysis') in order to investigate the mediating role of clinical, demographic and biochemical characteristics in the mood response to ATD. A procedure was developed to make different versions of the Hamilton scale comparable. Recurrent depressive episodes, female gender, prior exposure to SSRI antidepressant treatment and previous serious suicidal thoughts/attempts all appear to be independent predictors of mood response to ATD. Chronicity of illness is the most powerful predictor. Residual symptoms of depression were not found to predict response to ATD. ATD may be useful to study the mechanism of action of SSRI antidepressants and individual biological vulnerability of the serotonin system. Whether the effects of ATD represent a reversal of the action of SSRI antidepressants or individual vulnerability probably depends upon the timing of the procedure in the course of remission of a depressive episode.
Booij
Linda
L
Department of Psychology, University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Van der Does
Willem
W
Benkelfat
Chawki
C
Bremner
J Douglas
JD
Cowen
Philip J
PJ
Fava
Maurizio
M
Gillin
Christian
C
Leyton
Marco
M
Moore
Polly
P
Smith
Katharine A
KA
Van der Kloot
Willem A
WA
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012737:Sex Factors; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency*
D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D014364:Tryptophan