| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2566730 | Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry | 2007 | 5 Pages |
Abstract
The efficacy of the addition of lithium to an established course of antidepressant treatment can be explained by a synergistic effect of the two drugs on central 5-HT neurotransmission. In the present study we investigated the effect of lithium addition on the 5-HT concentration in plasma and platelets and the concentration of 5-HIAA. Thirty-nine depressed inpatients who fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder and who did not respond to monotherapy with either imipramine or fluvoxamine participated in this study. Concentration of 5-HT in both plasma and platelets did not change significantly during lithium addition. The 5-HT ratio (plasma concentration/platelet concentration) shows a small non-significant increase after 3Â weeks lithium addition. The mean concentration of 5-HIAA shows a significant increase during lithium addition; with no difference between the imipramine and the fluvoxamine sample. The increments in 5-HIAA concentration during lithium addition are indicative of an increased 5-HT turnover.
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Biological Psychiatry
Authors
Tom K. Birkenhäger, Walter W. van den Broek, Durk Fekkes, Paul G. Mulder, Peter Moleman, Jan A. Bruijn,