Footshock stress produced an immediate increase in brain concentrations of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol sulfate (MHPG-SO4), a major metabolite of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, in the rat brain. Twenty-four hours after footshock stress, when concentrations had returned to baseline, increases in MHPG-SO4 and emotional behavior could be elicited by previously neutral environmental stimuli that had been paired with the stress.

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: In a population of adults with atypical depression, most of whom were overweight or obese, CrPic produced improvement on the following HAM-D-29 items: appetite increase, increased eating, carbohydrate craving, and diurnal variation of feelings. In a subpopulation of patients with high carbohydrate craving, overall HAM-D-29 scores improved significantly in patients treated with CrPic compared with placebo. The results of this study suggest that the main effect of chromium was on carbohydrate craving and appetite regulation in depressed patients and that 600 mug of elemental chromium may be beneficial for patients with atypical depression who also have severe carbohydrate craving. Further studies are needed to evaluate chromium in depressed patients specifically selected for symptoms of increased appetite and carbohydrate craving as well as to determine whether a higher dose of chromium would have an effect on mood.

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Thirty-one psychiatric outpatients with tardive dyskinesia (TD) on neuroleptic medication were followed in a double-blind, randomized trial comparing baclofen (30-90 mg per day) to placebo. A repeated measures analysis of variance revealed no statistical difference between the baclofen-treated group and the placebo group for the total Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) scores. There was a trend (P = 0.09) for an initial improvement, then a worsening of frequency counts across four visits. The authors attempt to explain this finding on the basis of information obtained from animal research.

Le Sher: Comparative anticholinergic activity of oxaprotiline and amitriptyline. Drug Dev.Res. 3561-566, 1983. As part of a double-blind multicenter trial comparing oxaprotiline with amitriptyline and placebo in 308 outpatients with moderate depression, objective (salivary flow) and subjective (dry mouth, blurred visionlvisual disorder, and constipation) determinants of anticholinergic activity were assessed. Both active treatments, but not placebo, induced approximately a 40% reduction in salivary flow after one week of treatment with 75 mgl day h.s. Whereas amitriptyline caused a further reduction (26%) in salivary flow by the end of the trial (week 5), no such reduction was noted with oxaprotiline. With regards to subjective complaints, more patients experienced dry mouth and blurred vision/visual disorder after treatment with amitriptyline than after treatment with oxaprotiiine. Significantly more patients complained of constipation after treatment with oxaprotiline than after placebo, but not amitriptyline. The differential nature of the subjective anticholinergic effects induced by the two active drugs are discussed in terms of the possible involvement of neurotransmitter systems other than acetylcholine or of different muscarinic receptors. Also discussed is the possibility that tolerance developed to the drug-induced changes in salivary flow as well as the possible relationships between the sedative properties of antidepressants and some, but not all, of the anticholinergic effects of these drugs.

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