Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of depressive syndromes and in the mechanism of antidepressant drug action. Rapid dietary depletion of tryptophan (TRP) provides a paradigm for studying the role of 5- HT in depressed patients. Drug-free depressed patients do not show mood changes during TRP depletion but about one third have a clinically apparent, transient improvement in mood on return to normal TRP intake. Depressed patients in clinical remission after 6 to 8 weeks of antidepressant therapy experience a transient depressive relapse during acute TRP depletion. The significance of these findings will be discussed. Tryptophan depletion in other psychiatric syndromes will also be reviewed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 28-35 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Clinical Psychiatry |
| Volume | 53 |
| Issue number | 10 SUPPL. |
| State | Published - Jan 1 1992 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
Cite this
Miller, H. L., Delgado, P. L., Salomon, R. M., Licinio, J., Barr, L. C., & Charney, D. S. (1992). Acute tryptophan depletion: A method of studying antidepressant action. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 53(10 SUPPL.), 28-35.