This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

I. Enhanced Response in Depression and Mania

Herbert Y. Meltzer, MD; Brinda Umberkoman-Wiita, PhD; Alan Robertson, MD; Betty Jo Tricou, MD; Martin Lowy, PhD; Richard Perline, PhD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1984;41(4):366-374.

Abstract
• The serum cortisol concentration following administration of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), 200 mg orally, a precursor of serotonin (5-HT), was significantly greater in unmedicated depressed and manic patients than in normal controls. Increases in serum cortisol levels greater than 5 ug/dL were significantly more frequent in both unmedicated depressed and manic patients than in the normal controls. There was significant test-retest reliability. Baseline serum cortisol concentration correlated negatively with the cortisol response to 5-HTP in normal controls. These results suggest increased 5-HT receptor sensitivity may be present, possibly in the hypothalamus or pituitary, in some patients with affective disorders. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that decreased serotonergic activity, which would be expected to produce increased 5-HT receptor sensitivity, may be present in both depression and mania.

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, and the Illinois State Psychiatric Institute, Chicago.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Sept 23, 1983.

Reprint requests to Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, 950 E 59th St, Chicago, IL 60637 (Dr Meltzer).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Cortisol, stress and depression * Authors' reply
Garland et al.
Br. J. Psychiatry 2002;181 :348-349.
FULL TEXT  

Neuroendocrine Response to 5-Hydroxy-L-Tryptophan in Prepubertal Children at High Risk of Major Depressive Disorder
Birmaher et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1997;54:1113-1119.
ABSTRACT  

Neuroendocrine Response to L-5-Hydroxytryptophan Challenge in Prepubertal Major Depression: Depressed vs Normal Children
Ryan et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1992;49:843-851.
ABSTRACT  

Prolactin and Cortisol Responses to MK-212, a Serotonin Agonist, in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Bastani et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1990;47:833-839.
ABSTRACT  

Effects of Desipramine and Fluvoxamine Treatment on the Prolactin Response to Tryptophan: Serotonergic Function and the Mechanism of Antidepressant Action
Price et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1989;46:625-631.
ABSTRACT  

Lithium Treatment and Serotoninergic Function: Neuroendocrine and Behavioral Responses to Intravenous Tryptophan in Affective Disorder
Price et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1989;46:13-19.
ABSTRACT  

Neurobiology of Seasonal Affective Disorder and Phototherapy
Skwerer et al.
J Biol Rhythms 1988;3:135-154.
 

Neuroendocrine Response to 5-Hydroxytryptophan in Seasonal Affective Disorder
Jacobsen et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1987;44:1086-1091.
ABSTRACT  

Neuroendocrine Responses to Intravenous Tryptophan in Major Depression
Cowen and Charig
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1987;44:958-966.
ABSTRACT  

Serotonin Function in Panic Disorders: The Effect of Intravenous Tryptophan in Healthy Subjects and Patients With Panic Disorder Before and During Alprazolam Treatment
Charney and Heninger
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1986;43:1059-1065.
ABSTRACT  

{alpha}2-Adrenergic Receptor Function in Depression: The Cortisol Response to Yohimbine
Price et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1986;43:849-858.
ABSTRACT  

Desipramine Treatment in Normal Subjects: Effects on Neuroendocrine Responses to Tryptophan and on Platelet Serotonin (5-HT)--Related Receptors
Cowen et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1986;43:61-67.
ABSTRACT  

Psychiatric Epidemiology Counts
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1984;41:931-933.
ABSTRACT  

Effect of 5-Hydroxytryptophan on Serum Cortisol Levels in Major Affective Disorders: II. Relation to Suicide, Psychosis, and Depressive Symptoms
Meltzer et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1984;41:379-387.
ABSTRACT  

Effect of 5-Hydroxytryptophan on Serum Cortisol Levels in Major Affective Disorders: III. Effect of Antidepressants and Lithium Carbonate
Meltzer et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1984;41:391-397.
ABSTRACT