scholarly journals Neuroticism as a predictor of mood change: The effects of tryptophan depletion

2002 ◽  
Vol 181 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary E. Stewart ◽  
I.J. Deary ◽  
K. P. Ebmeier
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Family History ◽  
Healthy Volunteers ◽  
Acute Tryptophan Depletion ◽  
Tryptophan Depletion ◽  
Mood Change ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
History Of ◽  
Mood And Cognition ◽  
Double Blind Crossover Study

BackgroundAcute tryptophan depletion (ATD) results in a transient lowering of mood in patients recovered from depression and in healthy volunteers with a family history of affective disorders. The personality trait of neuroticism is strongly associated with depression.AimsTo assess whether neuroticism predicts mood change in response to ATD in healthy volunteers.MethodHealthy volunteers who scored at the top and bottom fifth percentiles of neuroticism scores (17 and 15 respectively) were selected. In a double-blind, crossover study they received a tryptophan-free or a control drink. Mood and cognition were assessed.ResultsNeuroticism did not predict the amount of mood change following ATD but did moderate performance on the verbal fluency test. A family history of affective disorder (n=5) predicted mood change but not cognitive function following ATD.ConclusionsNeuroticism moderates aspects of cognitive function, but in this study it was not strongly related with mood change via serotonin.

Acute tryptophan depletion in healthy young women with a family history of major affective disorder

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. ELLENBOGEN ◽  
S. N. YOUNG ◽  
P. DEAN ◽  
R. M. PALMOUR ◽  
C. BENKELFAT
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Family History ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Temporal Stability ◽  
Amino Acid Mixture ◽  
Acute Tryptophan Depletion ◽  
Acid Mixture ◽  
Tryptophan Depletion ◽  
Mood Change ◽  
History Of

Background. Acute tryptophan depletion (ATD), a means of reducing brain serotonin synthesis, lowers mood in normal males with a multi-generational family history of major affective disorder (MAD) and in normal women devoid of any family history of psychiatric illness. As both a family history of MAD and female sex are factors predisposing to depression, the hypothesis that a mood lowering response to ATD may reflect a susceptibility to depression was further investigated in young women with an extensive, multi-generational family history of MAD. In addition, the temporal stability of mood change following repeated trials of ATD was also assessed in this study.Methods. To deplete tryptophan, a tryptophan deficient amino acid mixture was ingested on two separate occasions. The control treatment, administered on a third occasion, was a nutritionally balanced amino acid mixture containing tryptophan.Results. A marked lowering of plasma tryptophan (85–90%) was achieved by both depletions. In comparison to the balanced condition, family history positive (FH+) women showed no lowering of mood to either the first or second ATD (N=13) and N=12, respectively). Mood change between the two ATD trials (N=13) exhibited poor temporal stability.Conclusions. These results may indicate that serotonin responsiveness is not an important characteristic of vulnerability to depression in these women. Alternately, these negative results may be due to the exclusion of a large number of FH+ women who had already experienced an episode of depression, resulting in the selection of a biased FH+ sample who are resistant to the mood lowering effects of ATD.

Effects of acute tryptophan depletion on cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease and in the healthy elderly

2002 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. PORTER ◽  
B. S. LUNN ◽  
J. T. O'BRIEN
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Senile Dementia ◽  
Specific Effect ◽  
Acute Tryptophan Depletion ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Tryptophan Depletion ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Healthy Elderly

Background. The cholinergic system is profoundly impaired in senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT) and replacement therapy produces only modest clinical benefits. The serotonergic system is also impaired and may contribute both to cognitive and non-cognitive symptoms in SDAT. To investigate this further we assessed the effects of lowering brain serotonin using the technique of acute tryptophan depletion on cognitive function in patients with SDAT and in age matched control subjects.Method. Sixteen patients with probable SDAT and 17 healthy elderly subjects received two amino acid drinks in a within subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled, counterbalanced, crossover design. One of the drinks was nutritionally balanced and contained tryptophan (placebo), the other was identical but contained no tryptophan. A battery of detailed neuropsychological tests was performed between 4 and 6 h after the drink. Mood rating scales and other ratings of behavioural and emotional symptoms were also performed on both occasions.Results. Acute tryptophan depletion resulted in impairment on tasks of working memory in both groups. There was no group specific effect. Female SDAT subjects performed better on a task of pattern recognition during acute tryptophan depletion compared with placebo. There were no changes in behavioural symptoms during acute tryptophan depletion in either group.Conclusion. Compromised serotonergic function may be an important contributor to cognitive decline in SDAT and in ageing. Strategies targeting specific 5HT receptors may be helpful in SDAT.

Acute tryptophan depletion in schizophrenia

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. GOLIGHTLY ◽  
J. A. LLOYD ◽  
J. E. HOBSON ◽  
P. GALLAGHER ◽  
G. MERCER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Movement Disorders ◽  
Acute Tryptophan Depletion ◽  
Tryptophan Depletion ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Free Tryptophan ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Axis I ◽  
Dsm Iv ◽  
Mood And Cognition ◽  
New Generation

Background. Brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) function is implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and the action of new generation antipsychotic drugs. By the method of acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) 5-HT can be selectively manipulated. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of ATD on symptoms, mood and cognition in schizophrenic patients.Methods. Twenty-eight schizophrenic patients participated in a within subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled counterbalanced cross-over study. Patients with a concurrent DSM-IV axis I diagnosis were excluded. Symptoms, mood and cognitive function were evaluated following ATD or ingestion of a control drink.Results. The depleting drink significantly reduced plasma total and free tryptophan. Tryptophan/LNAA ratios did not alter with the administration of the control drink, but differed significantly with ATD; however there was no significant change in tyrosine/LNAA ratio. ATD led to impairment in executive function that was dependent upon the order of administration. Tests of sustained attention, speed of processing, and everyday memory were not affected. No effects were observed on subjective mood ratings, movement disorders or PANSS scores.Conclusions. Acute tryptophan depletion selectively alters cognition in schizophrenia, but has no effect on symptoms, mood ratings or movement disorders.

Nutritional manipulation and psychiatric conditions: focus on mood and cognition

2003 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Riedel ◽  
B. L. Jorissen ◽  
E. Hogervorst
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Glucose Utilization ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Neuronal Membrane ◽  
Tryptophan Depletion ◽  
Membrane Function ◽  
Nutritional Enhancement ◽  
Psychiatric Conditions ◽  
Mood And Cognition ◽  
Antioxidant Effects

In this paper, several experimental models of human depression and cognitive dysfunction, which are designed specifically to mimic the proposed mechanisms of action of many nutritional supplements, are illustrated. These mechanisms of interest are antioxidant effects, glucose utilization, neuronal membrane function and neurotransmitter effects, with particular reference to nutrient-based amino acid manipulations of neurotransmission, such as tryptophan depletion. It is concluded that the application of experimental human models of altered mood and cognitive function may illuminate substantially the quest for nutritional enhancement of human mood and cognitive function.

scholarly journals Effects of a novel method of acute tryptophan depletion on plasma tryptophan and cognitive performance in healthy volunteers

2004 ◽  
Vol 178 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. T. Evers ◽  
D. E. Tillie ◽  
F. M. van der Veen ◽  
C. K. Lieben ◽  
J. Jolles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Volunteers ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Acute Tryptophan Depletion ◽  
Tryptophan Depletion ◽  
Plasma Tryptophan ◽  
Novel Method

Prevention of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in Girls

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 562-565
Author(s):  
Jacob A. Lohr ◽  
Donna H. Nunley ◽  
Stuart S. Howards ◽  
Raymond F. Ford
Keyword(s):  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Adverse Reactions ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Urinary Tract Abnormality ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Blind Crossover Study ◽  
Double Blind Crossover Study

Eighteen girls between the ages of 3 and 13 years—with a history of at least three culture-documented episodes of bacteriuria in the previous year, but without radiologic evidence of major urinary tract abnormality—were placed on a double-blind, crossover study comparing the effectiveness of nitrofurantoin macrocrystals against a placebo in preventing the recurrence of bacteriuria. Each child was placed on a daily low dose of nitrofurantoin (1.2 to 2.4 mg/kg/day) or an identical-appearing placebo for six months. Each child was then placed on the opposite capsule for a similar period. There were 35 episodes of bacteriuria (4.2 episodes/patient/yr) in the patients taking the placebo, which compared with a rate of 3.8 episodes/patient/yr during the year prior to the study. Only two episodes (0.2 episodes/patient/yr) occurred in the patients taking the drug. The difference in the rate of recurrent bacteriuria between the girls on placebo and on medication is significant at the 0.01 level using the Wilcoxin matched-pairs test. There were no adverse reactions to the drug. Nitrofurantoin macrocrystals in a single daily low dose appear to be a safe, effective method of preventing recurrent bacteriuria in girls at high risk.

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