SUMATRIPTAN-INDUCED GROWTH-HORMONE RELEASE IN PATIENTS WITH MAJOR DEPRESSION, MANIA, AND NORMAL CONTROLS

The purpose of this study was to assess serotonergic function in patie nts with major depression or mania using sumatriptan, it novel 5-HT1D receptor agonist, as it pharmacological probe in a neuroendocrine chal lenge paradigm. We studied 18 drug free patients (10 with acute unipol ar major depression and 8 with acute mania) who met DSM-IV criteria, a nd healthy controls. Subjects presented for testing after an overnight fast. After obtaining a blood sample for baseline growth hormone (GH) levels, sumatriptan (6 mg) was given subcutaneously, and further bloo d samples were collected at half hour intervals for 2 hours. The resul ts showed that GH responses to sumatriptan were blunted in depressed p atients but not in manics, compared to healthy controls. There were no differences in basal GH levels between the 3 groups. The results of t his study provide further support for the role of serotonergic system in pathophysiology of major depression, but not in mania. (C) 1997 Ame rican College of Neuropsychopharmacology. Published by Elsevier Scienc e Inc.