Journal
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
Volume 180, Issue -, Pages 24-28Publisher
ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS
DOI: 10.1192/bjp.180.1.24
Keywords
-
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Background Neuroendocrine studies of brain serotonin (5-HT) function in depression generally show evidence of impaired 5-HT function but it is disputed whether or not this impairment resolves with clinical recovery. Aims To use the endocrine response to the selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor, citalopram, to study brain 5-HT function in acute and recovered depressed subjects relative to healthy controls. Method We used a double-blind, placebo-controlled design to measure the prolactin and cortisol responses to citalopram (10 mg intravenously) in patients with major depression, in unmedicated subjects recovered from depression and in healthy controls, Results The prolactin responses to citalopram were blunted similarly in both acutely depressed and recovered subjects. The cortisol responses were blunted in the acutely depressed patients but not in the recovered subjects. Conclusions Our data support the proposal that some aspects of impaired 5-HT neurotransmission may be trait markers of vulnerability to depression. The recovery of the cortisol response to citalopram may indicate resolution of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction. Declaration of interest None. Funding from the Medical Research Council.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available