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Influence of convulsive therapy on 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and homovanillic acid in cerebrospinal fluid in endogenous depression

  • Original Investigations
  • Human Pharmacology
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Abstract

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) were determined in 20 patients with endogenous depression before and 2–6 days after a full course of convulsive therapy, the depressive symptoms being simultaneously rated.

  1. 1.

    The level of 5-HIAA was similar to that in previous series of healthy controls while the level of HVA appeared somewhat low.

  2. 2.

    The levels did not change after therapy in spite of considerable clinical improvement.

  3. 3.

    There was no relation between the levels and the severity of the depressive state, nor between changes of the levels and degree of clinical improvement.

  4. 3.

    There was no relation between the levels and the severity of the depressive state, nor between changes of the levels and degree of clinical improvement.

The validity of determination of acid monoamine metabolites in CSF relative to the cerebral turn-over of the amines may be increased, if the elimination of metabolites from CSF is blocked with probenecid.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Umeå, Sweden

    G. Nordin, J. -O. Ottosson & B. -E. Roos

  2. Department of Pharmacology, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden

    G. Nordin, J. -O. Ottosson & B. -E. Roos

Authors
  1. G. Nordin
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  2. J. -O. Ottosson
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  3. B. -E. Roos
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Nordin, G., Ottosson, J.O. & Roos, B.E. Influence of convulsive therapy on 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and homovanillic acid in cerebrospinal fluid in endogenous depression. Psychopharmacologia 20, 315–320 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403563

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403563

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