A pilot study of the predictive value of the probenecid test in application of 5-hydroxytryptophan as antidepressant

✍ Scribed by H. M. Praag; J. Korf; L. C. W. Dols; T. Schut

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1972
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 459 KB
• Volume: 25
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0033-3158
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00422612

✦ Synopsis

In depressions, varying therapeutic effects have been obtained with 5-HT precursors. This is possibly due to the fact that the group of the depressions is pathogenetically heterogeneous; that, specifically, some types do and other types do not entail disturbances in the central 5-HT metabolism; and that only the former types are "precursor-sensitive". This hypothesis was tested in a preliminary pilot study, and confirmed. The central 5-HT consumption was assessed on the basis of the probenecid t~st. In this experiment, 5-HTP was for the first time given in large doses over a considerable period of time.