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Effect of Psychotropic Drugs on Excitatory Amino Acids in Patients Undergoing Psychosurgery for Depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

M. N. Pangalos ,
A. L. Malizia ,
P. T. Francis ,
S. L. Lowe ,
P. H. F. Bertolucci ,
A. W. Procter ,
P. K. Bridges ,
J. R. Bartlett  and
D. M. Bowen
M. N. Pangalos
Affiliation:
Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 1PJ
A. L. Malizia
Affiliation:
Geoffrey Knight Unit for Affective Disorders, Brook General Hospital, London SE18 4LW
P. T. Francis
Affiliation:
Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 1PJ
S. L. Lowe
Affiliation:
Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 1PJ
P. H. F. Bertolucci
Affiliation:
Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 1PJ
A. W. Procter*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, UMDS–Guy's Hospital Campus, London SE1 9RJ
P. K. Bridges
Affiliation:
Geoffrey Knight Unit for Affective Disorders, Brook General Hospital, London SE18 4LW
J. R. Bartlett
Affiliation:
Geoffrey Knight Unit for Affective Disorders, Brook General Hospital, London SE18 4LW
D. M. Bowen
Affiliation:
Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 1PJ
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

Samples of ventricular CSF were taken from 52 consecutive patients admitted for psychosurgery for intractable depression. Concentrations of asparagine, aspartate, glutamine, glutamic acid, and serine were determined. Glutamate and aspartate concentrations, implicated in excitotoxic brain damage, were not affected by various types of psychotropic drug treatment. Serine, a modulator of glutamate responses, was significantly elevated in samples from subjects receiving antidepressants. These subjects responded poorly to the operation. Psychotropic drugs are unlikely to be neurotoxic. Nevertheless, antidepressants may influence excitatory neurotransmission.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 160 , Issue 5 , May 1992 , pp. 638 - 642
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1992 

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