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The addition of lithium to the tricyclic antidepressant medication of 23 patients with major depression resulted in an increase in the prolactin response to intravenous L-tryptophan after both four days and four weeks of treatment. The extent of this increase did not distinguish the ten patients who were classified as clinical responders (greater than 50% reduction in score on the HRSD). Among the responders there was a modestly significant correlation between the decrease in score on the HRSD and the enhancement of tryptophan-induced prolactin release. Some responders, however, showed very little change in this endocrine response over the four weeks of lithium treatment. Lithium may increase brain 5-HT function in tricyclic-resistant depression but there is only limited support for the hypothesis that changes in brain 5-HT function are involved in the antidepressant effect of this treatment combination.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Br J Psychiatry

Publication Date

09/1991

Volume

159

Pages

341 - 346

Keywords

Adult, Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic, Bipolar Disorder, Brain, Depressive Disorder, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Drug Therapy, Combination, Female, Humans, Lithium Carbonate, Male, Prolactin, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Receptors, Serotonin, Synaptic Transmission, Tryptophan