Depression vulnerability and 5-hydroxytryptophan prophylaxis

Psychiatry Research
H van Praag, S de Hann

Abstract

Previous studies have indicated that (1) The group of vital (endogenous) depressions encompasses a subgroup with a central serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) deficiency. (2) Abolition of this deficiency--with the aid of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a 5-HT precursor, or clomipramine, a 5-HT reuptake inhibitor--leads to abatement of depressive symptoms. It therefore seems plausible that the suspected 5-HT deficiency contributes to the development of depressive symptoms instead of resulting from them. (3) In a majority of patients, the suspected 5-HT deficiency persists even when the depressive symptoms have disappeared and the medication has been discontinued. This suggested that the disturbed central 5-HT metabolism is not a direct causal, but a predisposing factor. If so, abolition of the suspected 5-HT deficiency, e.g., with the aid of 5-HTP, would be expected to have a prophylactic effect. As predicted, 5-HTP was found in the present study to reduce the relapse rate in recurrent vital depressions with both a unipolar and bipolar course. The prophylactic effect was most pronounced in patients with persistent disorders of central 5-HT metabolism; this observation, however, requires corroboration. 5-HTP prophylaxis is the fir...Continue Reading

References

Mar 8, 1975·Lancet·M TrimbleC D Marsden
Dec 1, 1979·Psychiatry Research·H M van Praag, S de Haan
Feb 1, 1978·Biochemical Pharmacology·F SulserP L Mobley
Jan 1, 1977·British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·J D Van ScheyenJ Korf
Jan 13, 1977·The New England Journal of Medicine·M H Van WoertM B Bowers
Jan 1, 1977·Neuropsychobiology·H M Van Praag
Jan 1, 1975·Journal of Neural Transmission·W Birkmayer, P Riederer
Jun 1, 1972·European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·R Sjöström, B E Roos
Jun 1, 1973·Archives of General Psychiatry·H M van PraagD Schut
Dec 1, 1965·Archives of General Psychiatry·W E Bunney, J M Davis

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jun 6, 2013·Molecular Neurobiology·Vishal JindalRitwik Das
Oct 15, 1996·Biological Psychiatry·V S KostićS Filipović
Aug 1, 1982·Physiology & Behavior·J D BrookeP Rosenrot
Dec 1, 1982·Journal of Affective Disorders·H M Van Praag
Jul 29, 1996·Journal of Affective Disorders·V J KnottE R Horn
May 1, 1987·Psychiatry Research·C A PeabodyP A Berger
Jan 1, 1983·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·S KelwalaN Sitaram
Jan 1, 1996·European Psychiatry : the Journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists·H van Praag
Jan 1, 1996·European Psychiatry : the Journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists·F RouillonS Wood
Dec 1, 1992·European Neuropsychopharmacology : the Journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology·H M van Praag
Dec 1, 1982·American Family Physician·D Davis, J L Chapel
Oct 20, 1998·Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. Supplementum·H M van Praag
Aug 1, 1982·Psychological Medicine·G Curzon
Jul 15, 2015·The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology·Kang SimRoss J Baldessarini
Sep 15, 2004·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·H M van Praag
Sep 17, 2005·The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry : the Official Journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry·Herman M van Praag
Sep 21, 2012·Scientific Reports·Rima Kaddurah-DaoukWayne Drevets
Mar 1, 1984·Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica·M AsbergL Träskman-Bendz
Jan 1, 1986·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·A FrancesJ Clarkin
Jan 1, 1986·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·S J Blumenthal, D J Kupfer
Feb 1, 1988·Journal of Youth and Adolescence·S J Blumenthal, D J Kupfer
Jul 1, 1985·The International Journal of Neuroscience·J A Jesberger, J S Richardson
Jun 1, 1997·Acta Neuropsychiatrica·H M Van Praag
Jan 1, 1984·Nutrition and Health·A J Gelenberg, C J Gibson
Jan 1, 1986·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·H M Van PraagH Conte
Jun 1, 2001·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·H M Van Praag

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.