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?

Margaret Altemus, MD; Susan E. Swedo, MD; Henrietta L. Leonard, MD; Dan Richter; David R. Rubinow, MD; William Z. Potter, MD; Judith L. Rapoport, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1994;51(10):794-803.

Abstract
Background
This study examined the effect of longterm (mean, 19 months) treatment with clomipramine hydrochloride on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of several neuropeptides and monoamine metabolites in children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Methods
The CSF levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone, vasopressin, somatostatin, and oxytocin and of the monoamine metabolites 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid, homovanillic acid, and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol were measured in 17 children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder before and after longterm treatment with clomipramine.

Results
Treatment resulted in significant decreases in CSF levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (mean±SD, 175±32 vs 152±25 pmol/L, P<.03) and vasopressin (mean±SD, 1.30±0.57 vs 0.86±0.54 pmol/L, P<.02) and a trend toward a decrease in somatostatin levels (mean±SD, 21.3±8.5 vs 15.3±9.8 pmol/L, P<.06). Treatment also significantly increased CSF oxytocin levels (mean±SD, 6.05±1.60 vs 6.70±1.44 pmol/L, P<.01). Significant changes in CSF monoamine metabolite levels with treatment included significant decreases in CSF levels of 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (mean±SD, 109±31 vs 77±23 pmol/mL, P<.001), CSF homovanillic acid (mean±SD, 273±111 vs 237±101 pmol/mL, P<.04), and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (mean±SD, 42.4±10.2 vs 36.1 ±4.8 pmol/L, P<.02) and a significant increase in the homovanillic acid—5-hydroxyin-dolacetic acid ratio (mean±SD, 2.44±0.46 vs 3.42±0.84, P<.0001).

Conclusions
These neuropeptide results coupled with evidence that central administration of corticotropinreleasing hormone, vasopressin, and somatostatin to laboratory animals increases arousal and acquisition of conditioned behaviors whereas central administration of oxytocin has opposite behavioral effects are consistent with a role for these neuropeptides in the pathophysiologic processes and pharmacologic treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Author Affiliations
From the Laboratory of Clinical Science (Dr Altemus), the Child Psychiatry Branch (Drs Swedo, Leonard, Rapoport, and Mr Richter), the Biological Psychiatry Branch (Dr Rubinow), and the Experimental Therapeutics Branch of the Division of Intramural Research Programs (Dr Potter), National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md.

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

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Endocrinologic and Psychologic Evaluation of 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency Carriers and Matched Normal Subjects: Evidence for Physical and/or Psychologic Vulnerability to Stress
Charmandari et al.
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 2004;89:2228-2236.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Receptor Occupancy of Nonpeptide Corticotropin-Releasing Factor 1 Antagonist DMP696: Correlation with Drug Exposure and Anxiolytic Efficacy
Li et al.
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 2003;305:86-96.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Cerebrospinal Fluid Vasopressin Levels: Correlates With Aggression and Serotonin Function in Personality-Disordered Subjects
Coccaro et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1998;55:708-714.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT