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Journal ArticleDOI

Serotonin Function and the Mechanism of Antidepressant Action: Reversal of Antidepressant-Induced Remission by Rapid Depletion of Plasma Tryptophan

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TLDR
The behavioral effects of rapid tryptophan depletion in patients in antidepressant-induced remission and the therapeutic effects of some antidepressant drugs may be dependent on serotonin availability are investigated.
Abstract
Brain serotonin content is dependent on plasma levels of the essential amino acid tryptophan. We investigated the behavioral effects of rapid tryptophan depletion in patients in antidepressant-induced remission. Twenty-one patients who were depressed by DSM-III-R criteria received a 24-hour, 160-mg/d, low-tryptophan diet followed the next morning by a 16-amino acid drink, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled (acute tryptophan depletion and control testing), crossover fashion. Total and free tryptophan levels decreased 87% and 91%, respectively, during acute tryptophan depletion. Fourteen of the 21 remitted depressed patients receiving antidepressants experienced a depressive relapse after the tryptophan-free amino acid drink, with gradual (24 to 48 hours) return to the remitted state on return to regular food intake. Control testing produced no significant behavioral effects. Free plasma tryptophan level was negatively correlated with depression score during acute tryptophan depletion. The therapeutic effects of some antidepressant drugs may be dependent on serotonin availability.

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References
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Journal ArticleDOI

Elevated concentrations of CSF corticotropin-releasing factor-like immunoreactivity in depressed patients

TL;DR: Findings are concordant with the hypothesis that CRF hypersecretion is, at least in part, responsible for the hyperactivity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis characteristic of major depression.
Journal ArticleDOI

The biochemistry of affective disorders.

TL;DR: The weight of evidence suggests that biochemical changes are most important in the aetiology of affective disorders, and that psychological and environmental events may precipitate and maintain the biochemical events which in turn lead to the affective disorder.
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