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Prolactin response to d-fenfluramine in obsessive-compulsive patients, and outcome of fluvoxamine treatment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Palmiero Monteleone ,
Francesco Catapano ,
Stefania Dl Martino ,
Ciro Ferraro  and
Mario Maj
Palmiero Monteleone*
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Naples, Italy
Francesco Catapano
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Naples, Italy
Stefania Dl Martino
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Naples, Italy
Ciro Ferraro
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Naples, Italy
Mario Maj
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Naples, Italy
*
Palmiero Monteleone, Clinica Psichiatrica, Primo Policlinico Universitario, Largo Madonna delle Grazie, 80138 Napoli, Italy
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Abstract

Background

Although several studies have directly explored serotonin (5-HT) transmission in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), their results have been inconsistent and their clinical relevance is doubtful

Method

According to a double-blind placebo-controlled design, plasma prolactin (PRL) response to a specific serotonergic probe, d-fenfluramine, was measured in 20 drug-free obsessive compulsive patients and in 20 matched healthy controls. After the neuroendocrine test, 5 patients completed a lO-week treatment with fluvoxamine. Psychopathological assessment was performed before and after therapy.

Results

PRL response in OCD patients was blunted under the drug-free condition; correlated inversely with pretreatment ratings of obsessive-compulsive and depressive symptomatology; and correlated inversely with the improvement in obsessive-compulsivescore observed after fluvoxamine treatment.

Conclusions

These results support the idea of a dysfunction of 5-HT transmission in OCD, and suggest that the greater this impairment, the better the response to drugs which selectively block the reuptake of 5-HT.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 170 , Issue 6 , June 1997 , pp. 554 - 557
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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