Assessment of serotonergic function in major depression using d-fenfluramine: relation to clinical variables and antidepressant response

ABSTRACTThe treatment of major depression remains problematic for several reasons. In particular, the therapeutic response to medications usually does not manifest itself until a week after administration has begun, and more than half the patients will not experience a full recovery with the first antidepressant drug administration. There are, however, some pharmacologic strategies that can accelerate antidepressant response. When facing a treatment-resistant depression, combination therapy offers a more time-efficient approach to achieve remission than drug substitution. These interventions have been devised on a better understanding of the basis for the therapeutic response obtained with the first- and second-generation antidepressants, and evidence derived from controlled clinical trials of their superior effectiveness is growing. The rationale for such approaches will be described in this article, as well as their advantages and potential inconveniences. Ongoing research in this field continues to fuel the development of novel, better-tolerated, and more effective pharmacotherapies for depression.

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Body temperature, pituitary-thyroid axis, and the antidepressant response to sleep deprivation in major depression

Biological Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/0006-3223(92)90520-a ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 31 (5) ◽

pp. 132

Keyword(s):

Major Depression ◽

Body Temperature ◽

Sleep Deprivation ◽

Antidepressant Response ◽

Pituitary Thyroid Axis ◽

Thyroid Axis

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The relationship of DSM-III-R personality disorder to clinical variables in patients with major depression: Possible difference between personality disorder clusters

Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences ◽

10.1111/j.1440-1819.1996.tb01671.x ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 50 (3) ◽

pp. 95-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

TETSUYA SATO ◽

KAORU SAKADO ◽

KAZUO NISHIOKA ◽

TORU UEHARA ◽

SATOSHI SATO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Major Depression ◽

Personality Disorder ◽

Clinical Variables ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship

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Sequence variations of ABCB1, SLC6A2, SLC6A3, SLC6A4, CREB1, CRHR1 and NTRK2: association with major depression and antidepressant response in Mexican-Americans

Molecular Psychiatry ◽

10.1038/mp.2009.92 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 14 (12) ◽

pp. 1105-1118 ◽

Cited By ~ 109

Author(s):

C Dong ◽

M-L Wong ◽

J Licinio

Keyword(s):

Major Depression ◽

Mexican Americans ◽

Antidepressant Response ◽

Sequence Variations

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Enhanced Serotonergic Responsivity Following Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients with Major Depression

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.160.2.223 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 160 (2) ◽

pp. 223-229 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Baruch Shapira ◽

Bernard Lerer ◽

Seth Kindler ◽

Pesach Lichtenberg ◽

Cornelius Gropp ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Major Depressive Disorder ◽

Major Depression ◽

Depressive Disorder ◽

Plasma Prolactin ◽

Major Depressive ◽

Prolactin Release ◽

Clinical Observations ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After ◽

Serotonergic Function

Prolactin release in response to fenfluramine hydrochloride (60 mg orally) and placebo was evaluated in 18 medication-free patients with RDC major depressive disorder, endogenous subtype, before and after a series of bilateral treatments with ECT. Before ECT, fenfluramine induced a twofold increase in plasma prolactin levels. This response was significantly enhanced after the ECT series, while baseline prolactin levels and response to the placebo challenge were not altered. There was no significant difference in plasma fenfluramine and norfenfluramine levels during the pre- and post-ECT challenges. These findings suggest that ECT enhances central serotonergic responsivity and extend to depressed patients pre-clinical observations regarding the effect of electroconvulsive shock on serotonergic function.

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