Enhanced Serotonergic Responsivity Following Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients with Major Depression
- 1 February 1992
- journal article
- Published by Royal College of Psychiatrists in The British Journal of Psychiatry
- Vol. 160 (2), 223-229
- https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.160.2.223
Abstract
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.Keywords
This publication has 39 references indexed in Scilit:
- Effect of imipramine treatment on the prolactin response to fenfluramine and placebo challenge in depressed patientsJournal of Affective Disorders, 1989
- Plasma Cortisol, Prolactin, Growth Hormone, and Immunoreactive β-Endorphin Response to Fenfluramine Challenge in Depressed PatientsClinical Neuropharmacology, 1988
- Plasma prolactin changes following fenfluramine in depressed patients compared to controls: An evaluation of central serotonergic responsibility in depressionLife Sciences, 1984
- Electroconvulsive therapy: results in depressive illness from the Leicestershire trial.BMJ, 1984
- Electric convulsion therapy in depression: a double-blind controlled trial.BMJ, 1981
- Neuroendocrine studies in affective disordersJournal of Affective Disorders, 1980
- THE NORTHWICK PARK ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY TRIALThe Lancet, 1980
- A Neuroendocrine Study of the Mechanism of Action of ECTThe British Journal of Psychiatry, 1980
- Treatment of an adrenal cortical carcinoma with a combination of o,p′-DDD and aminoglutethimidePublished by Oxford University Press (OUP) ,1975
- INTENSIFICATION OF THE CENTRAL SEROTONINERGIC PROCESSES AS A POSSIBLE DETERMINANT OF THE THYMOLEPTIC EFFECTThe Lancet, 1969