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?

2-Adrenergic Receptor Sensitivity in Depression

The Plasma MHPG, Behavioral, and Cardiovascular Responses to Yohimbine

George R. Heninger, MD; Dennis S. Charney, MD; Lawrence H. Price, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1988;45(8):718-726.

Abstract
• ₂-Adrenergic receptors play a major role in the regulation of the noradrenergic system. To assess the function of these receptors relative to possible abnormalities in noradrenergic function in depression, responses to the ₂-antagonist yohimbine hydrochloride were investigated in 45 depressed patients and 20 healthy control subjects. Plasma 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), blood pressure (BP), pulse, subjective mood, and somatic symptoms were measured before and during yohimbine and placebo administration. The 25% increase in plasma MHPG levels produced by yohimbine did not differ between patients and controls. Mood responses also tended to be similar between groups, with patients reporting only minor improvement in depression following yohimbine. However, yohimbine caused significantly greater increases in somatic symptoms and tended to produce a greater increase in BP in patients than in controls. Evaluation of patient subgroups divided by the presence or absence of melancholia, psychosis, prominent anxiety, or personality disorder did not demonstrate consistent differences. In contrast, comparison of these findings with a prior study showed that patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia who received yohimbine manifested significantly greater increases in MHPG levels and ratings of anxiety, nervousness, and depression than depressed patients. These findings suggest that patients with major depression do not demonstrate marked abnormalities in ₂-adrenergic autoreceptor function.

Author Affiliations
From the Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication July 21, 1987.

Reprint requests to Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 34 Park St, New Haven, CT 06508 (Dr Heninger).

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

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Neuroimaging findings in post-traumatic stress disorder: Systematic review
HULL
Br. J. Psychiatry 2002;181:102-110.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Noradrenergic and Serotonergic Function in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Southwick et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1997;54:749-758.
ABSTRACT  

Positron Emission Tomography Measurement of Cerebral Metabolic Correlates of Yohimbine Administration in Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Bremner et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1997;54:246-254.
ABSTRACT  

Abnormal Noradrenergic Function in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Southwick et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1993;50:266-274.
ABSTRACT  

Acute and chronic idazoxan in normal volunteers: biochemical, physiological and psychological effects
Glue et al.
J Psychopharmacol 1991;5:396-403.
ABSTRACT  

{alpha}2-Adrenoceptor--Mediated Inhibition of Platelet Adenylate Cyclase and Induction of Aggregation in Major Depression: Effect of Long-term Cyclic Antidepressant Drug Treatment
Garcia-Sevilla et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1990;47:125-132.
ABSTRACT