Serotonergic Function in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Behavioral and Neuroendocrine Responses to Oral m-Chlorophenylpiperazine and Fenfluramine in Patients and Healthy Volunteers

Eric Hollander, Concetta M. Decaria, Anca Nitescu, Robert Gully, Raymond F. Suckow, Thomas B. Cooper, Jack M. Gorman, Donald F. Klein, Michael R. Liebowitz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

243 Scopus citations

Abstract

• To evaluate serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine) function in obsessive-compulsive disorder, behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to m-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP; 0.5 mg/kg orally) and fenfluramine hydrochloride (60 mg orally) were examined in 20 patients and 10 healthy controls under double-blind, placebo-controlled conditions. Following m-CPP, but not fenfluramine or placebo, 55% (11/20) of the patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder experienced a transient exacerbation of obsessivecompulsive disorder. Prolactin response was blunted in patients following m-CPP but not following fenfluramine. Patients with greater behavioral response to m-CPP had smaller prolactin responses. Cortisol response to m-CPP and fenfluramine did not significantly differ between the groups. Behavioral and neuroendocrine responses appeared divergent. This does not suggest simply upregulation or downregulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors, but rather complex mechanisms involving multiple neurotransmitter and neuromodulator systems.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)21-28
Number of pages8
JournalArchives of General Psychiatry
Volume49
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1992
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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