Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T18:52:55.291Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of antidepressant treatment on alpha2 adrenoceptor function in DSM 111 major depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Siobhan Barry  and
Timothy G. Dinan
Timothy G. Dinan
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Medical School, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Twenty-one drug free patients fulfilling the DSM-111-R criteria for major depressive disorder were administered an alpha2 adrenoceptor challenge test. They were then treated with an antidepressant or ECT. Six weeks later, alpha2 function was again tested and found to be universally downregulated in treatment responders. Those who failed to respond to treatment (33%) had evidence of continuing alpha2 adrenoceptor activity. These results suggest central noradrenergic overactivity as a possible mechanism for depression, which runs counter to the classic catecholamine hypothesis.

Keywords

Antidepressant treatment - Alpha2 adrenoceptorDepression
Type
Original Articles
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , September 1989 , pp. 109 - 111
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Schildkraut, J J. The catecholamine hypothesis of affective disorders: A review of the evidence. Am. J. Psychiatry 1965; 122: 509–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Deakin, J F W and Crow, T J. Monoamines, rewards and punishments: the anatomy and physiology of the affective disorders. In Deakin, J F W (ed.) The Biology of Depression. London: Gaskell, 1986.Google Scholar
3.Katakami, H, Kato, Y, Matsushita, N and Imura, H. Effects of neonatal treatment with monosodium gtutamate on growth hormone release induced by clonidine and prostaglandin E, in conscious male rats. Neuroendocrinology 1984; 38: 1–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Matussek, N, Ackenhail, M, Hippius, Het al.Effect of clonidine on growth hormone release in psychiatric patients and controls. Psychiatry Research 1980;2: 25–36.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Checkley, S A, Slade, A P and Shur, E. Growth hormone and other responses to clonidine in patients with endogenous depression. Br. J. Psychiatry 1981; 138: 248–51.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Charney, D S, Menkes, D B and Heninger, G R. Receptor sensitivity and the mechanism of action of antidepressant treatment: Implication for the aetiology and therapy of depression. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 1981; 38: 1160–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Siever, L J, Mide, T W, Silberman, G Ket al.The growth hormone response to clonidine as a probe of noradrenergic receptor responsiveness in affective disorder patients and controls. Psychiatry Research 1982; 6: 171–83.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Laakman, G, Schumacher, G, Benkert, O and Werder, K V. Stimulation of growth hormone secretion by desipramine and chlorimioramine in man. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 1977; 44: 1010–13.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Laakman, G. Neuroendocrinological findings in affective disorders after administration of antidepressants. Advances in Biological Psychiatry, 5: 67–84. Basel: Karger 1980.Google Scholar
10.Calil, H M, Lesiuir, P, Gold, P Wet al.Hormonal response to zimelidine and desipramine in depressed patients. Psychiatry Research 1984; 13: 231–43.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11.Dinan, T G and Barry, S. Hormone responses to desipramine in endogenous and non endogenous depression. Br. J. Psychiatry 1989, in press.Google Scholar
12.Sulser, F. Regulation and function of noradrenaline receptor systems in brain. Neuropharmacology 1984; 23 (2B): 255–61.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13.American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Third Edition - Revised. Washington: A.P.A. 1987.Google Scholar
14.Hamilton, M. Development of a rating scale for primary depressive illness. British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 1967; 278–96.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.Barry, S and Dinan, T G. Neuroendocrine challenge tests in depression: a study of growth hormone, TRH and Cortisol release. Journal of Affective Disorders 1989 (in press).Google Scholar
16.Yatham, L N, Barry, S and Dinan, T G. Serotonin receptors, buspirone and the premenstrual syndrome. Lancet 1989; 1447–8.Google Scholar
17.Raite, S. The standards of human growth hormone assays. In Zaron, L and Butenandt, O (eds.) Evaluation of growth hormone secretion. Basel: Karger, 1983.Google Scholar
18.Checkley, S A, Corn, T H, Glass, I B, Burton, S W and Burke, C A. The responsiveness of centra] alpha2 receptors in depression. In Deakin, J F W (ed.) The Biology of Depression. London: Gaskell, 1986.Google Scholar
19.Slade, A P and Checkley, S A. A neuronal study of the mechanism of action of ECT. Br. J. Psychiatry 1980; 137: 217–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20.Glass, I B, Checkley, S A, Shur, E and Dawling, S. The effect of desipramine upon central adrenergic function in depressed patients. Br.J. Psychiatry 1982; 141: 372–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21.Siever, L J, Uhde, T W, Insel, T R, Roy, B F and Murphy, D L. Growth hormone response to clonidine unchanged by chronic clorgyline treatment. Psychiatry Research 1982; 7: 139–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22.Terry, L C and Martin, J B. Evidence for alpha adrenergic regulation of episodic growth hormone and prolactin secretion in the undisturbed male rat. Endocrinology 1981; 108: 1869–73.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
23.McWilliam, J R and Meldrum, B S. Noradrenergic regulation of growth hormone secretion in the baboon. Endocrinology 1983; 112: 234–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24.Leonard, B E. Speculation on the biochemical basis of depression. In New Direction in Antidepressant Therapy. 46th Int. Congress and Symposium. London: Royal Society of Medicine, 1981.Google Scholar
25.Beck A, I. Depression. New York: Harper & Row, 1967.Google Scholar
26.Klein, D C, Gittleman, R and Quitkin, F. Diagnosis and Drug Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: Adults and Children (ed. 2). Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins 1980.Google Scholar
27.Sulser, F, Vetulani, J and Mbbley, P L. Mode of action of antidepressant drugs. Biochemical Pharmacology 1978; 27: 257–61.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
28.Schittecatte, M, Charles, G, Machowski, M and Wilmotte, J. Tricyclic wash-out and growth hormone response to clonidine. Br. J. Psychiatry 1989; 154: 858–63.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed