Citation

Sallee FR, Hilal R, Dougherty D, Beach K, Nesbitt L. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry 1998; 37(7): 777-784.

Affiliation

Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/00004583-199807000-00018

PMID

9666634

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serotonin transporter protein (5HTPR) binding in platelets from children and adolescents with major depression (MDD) compared to normal controls using the selective ligand 3H-paroxetine. METHOD: Children and adolescents with MDD (n = 24) defined by DSM-III-R criteria and normal controls (n = 22) were compared by platelet 5HTPR kinetic analysis with the hypothesis that 5HTPR is reduced in MDD. A subset of MDD subjects (n = 18) continued to participate in a fixed-dose, open-label sertraline trial for 6 weeks followed by drug-free washout and repeated 5HTPR analysis. RESULTS: Sex, prepubertal status, and age had no effect on 5HTPR. Medication-free MDD subjects differed from controls in reduced binding capacity (Bmax) (p < .001). Sertraline therapy decreased binding affinity from baseline non-selectively (p < .05), and Bmax elevation from baseline was associated with nonresponse and suicide attempt history. CONCLUSION: Earlier literature in this population is replicated with regard to reduced platelet 5HTPR Bmax in MDD. Findings support a continuum of 5HTPR involvement in MDD across the developmental spectrum.

Language: en