Neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies of the effects of acute tryptophan depletion: a systematic review of the literature

Fusar‐Poli, Paolo; Allen, Paul; McGuire, Philip; Placentino, Anna; Cortesi, Mariachiara; Pérez, Jorge

doi:10.1007/s00213-006-0493-1

Cited by 56 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…This view would be consistent with a recent meta-analysis by Fusar-Poli et al (2006), in which acute trytophan depletion was found to modulate cortical activity in areas that are Langenecker et al (2005). The authors reported executive impairments and deficits in the perception of emotional faces that were unrelated in depressed patients.…”

Section: Major Depression and Prosody Comprehension 557supporting

confidence: 88%

Perception of affective prosody in major depression: A link to executive functions?

Uekermann

Abdel‐Hamid

Lehmkämper

et al. 2008

J Int Neuropsychol Soc

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Major depression is associated with impairments of executive functions and affect perception deficits, both being linked to dysfunction of fronto-subcortical networks. So far, little is known about the relationship between cognitive and affective deficits in major depression. In the present investigation, affect perception and executive functions were assessed in 29 patients with a diagnosis of major depression (Dep) and 29 healthy controls (HC). Both groups were comparable on IQ, age, and gender distribution. Depressed patients showed deficits of perception of affective prosody, which were significantly related to inhibition, set shifting, and working memory. Our findings suggest a significant association between cognitive deficits and affect perception impairments in major depression, which may be of considerable clinical relevance and might be addressed in treatment approaches. Future studies are desirable to investigate the nature of the association in more detail. (JINS, 2008, 14, 552-561.)

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Section: Major Depression and Prosody Comprehension 557supporting

confidence: 88%

Perception of affective prosody in major depression: A link to executive functions?

Uekermann

Abdel‐Hamid

Lehmkämper

et al. 2008

J Int Neuropsychol Soc

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“…ATD lowered the plasma TRP/LNAA by 77%, which is comparable with previous studies using the same CP ATD method (Evers et al 2005) or the classic ATD mixture (Van der Does 2001). Previous studies using the classic ATD mixture have reported an increase in plasma TRP of up to 200% in the balanced (TRP+) condition (for a review see Fusar-Poli et al 2006), whereas the CP ATD method has been found to be more effective in maintaining a stable TRP+ condition (Evers et al 2005;Firk and Markus 2008). In the present study, the TRP/LNAA ratio also increased by 62% in the TRP+ condition suggesting that the TRP+ condition may also be psychoactive due to an increase in 5-HT synthesis.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 45%

“…One accepted method to study behavioral and cognitive effects of transiently reduced 5-HT availability in humans is the acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) strategy (for a review see Fusar-Poli et al 2006;Young et al 1985). In this procedure, brain 5-HT is reduced through depletion of plasma tryptophan (TRP, a precursor of 5-HT) availability for uptake into the brain by intake of a TRP-free amino acid mixture that contains all of the essential amino acids except for TRP.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential effects of 5-HTTLPR genotypes on mood, memory, and attention bias following acute tryptophan depletion and stress exposure

Firk

Markus

2008

Psychopharmacology

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Rationale Polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) may be associated with increased vulnerability to acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) and depression vulnerability especially following stressful life events. Objective The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ATD in subjects with different 5-HTTLPR profiles before and after stress exposure on affective and cognitive-attentional changes. Materials and methods Eighteen subjects with homozygotic short alleles (S′/S′) and 17 subjects with homozygotic long alleles (L′/L′) of the 5-HTTLPR participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design to measure the effects of ATD on mood, memory, and attention before and after acute stress exposure. Results ATD lowered mood in all subjects independent of genotype. In S′/S′ genotypes, mild acute stress increased depressive mood and in L′/L′ genotypes increased feelings of vigor. Furthermore, S′/S′ genotypes differed from L′/L′ genotypes on measures of attention independent of treatment and memory following ATD. Conclusions Polymorphisms of the 5-HTTLPR differentially affect responses to mild stress and ATD, suggesting greater vulnerability of S′/S′ carriers to serotonergic manipulations and supporting increased depression vulnerability.

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“…We retrieved additional references identified in previous reviews 11,12,[18][19][20][23][24][25] and cross-references from identified studies. Two reviewers (HGR and NSM) independently selected articles based on the a priori inclusion and exclusion criteria as stated above.…”

Section: Literature Searches and Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mood is indirectly related to serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine levels in humans: a meta-analysis of monoamine depletion studies

2007

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Dysfunction in the monoamine systems of serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) may causally be related to major depressive disorder (MDD). Monoamine depletion studies investigate the direct effects of monoamines on mood. Acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) or para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) deplete 5-HT, acute phenylalanine/ tyrosine depletion (APTD) or alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (AMPT) deplete NE/DA. Available depletion studies found conflicting results in heterogeneous populations: healthy controls, patients with previous MDD in remission and patients suffering from MDD. The decrease in mood after 5-HT and NE/DA depletion in humans is reviewed and quantified. Systematic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE (1966-October 2006) and cross-references was carried out. Randomized studies applying ATD, PCPA, APTD or AMPT vs control depletion were included. Pooling of results by meta-analyses was stratified for studied population and design of the study (within or between subjects). Seventy-three ATD, 2 PCPA, 10 APTD and 8 AMPT studies were identified of which 45 ATD and 8 APTD studies could be meta-analyzed. 5-HT or NE/DA depletion did not decrease mood in healthy controls. 5-HT or NE/DA depletion slightly lowered mood in healthy controls with a family history of MDD. In drug-free patients with MDD in remission, a moderate mood decrease was found for ATD, without an effect of APTD. ATD induced relapse in patients with MDD in remission who used serotonergic antidepressants. In conclusion, monoamine depletion studies demonstrate decreased mood in subjects with a family history of MDD and in drug-free patients with MDD in remission, but do not decrease mood in healthy humans. Although depletion studies usefully investigate the etiological link of 5-HT and NE with MDD, they fail to demonstrate a causal relation. They presumably clarify a vulnerability trait to become depressed. Directions for further investigation of this vulnerability trait are proposed.

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Neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies of the effects of acute tryptophan depletion: a systematic review of the literature

Abstract: The combination of ATD with modern brain imaging techniques allows the investigation of the neurophysiological effects of reduced 5-HT synthesis on global brain activity, executive functions, memory, attention, and affect.

Cited by 56 publications

References 76 publications

Perception of affective prosody in major depression: A link to executive functions?

Perception of affective prosody in major depression: A link to executive functions?

Differential effects of 5-HTTLPR genotypes on mood, memory, and attention bias following acute tryptophan depletion and stress exposure

Mood is indirectly related to serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine levels in humans: a meta-analysis of monoamine depletion studies

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