PLATELET SEROTONIN LEVELS IN ALCOHOLIC PATIENTS - CHANGES RELATED TO PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL FACTORS

This study investigated platelet serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) levels and the effects of different physiological and pathological fa ctors in 108 alcoholic patients (alcohol abuse, n = 49; alcohol depend ence, n = 59) and 32 healthy control subjects. Platelet 5-HT levels we re determined by a fluorescent-orthophtalaldehyde assay. In patients, platelet 5-HT levels during withdrawal from alcohol and after 2 weeks of abstinence were significantly lower than in control subjects. Among patients, this decrease was enhanced both in alcohol-dependent patien ts and in patients who were depressed during the withdrawal phase, whe reas lifetime impulse control disorders (mostly found in alcohol abuse rs) were associated with comparatively high platelet 5-HT levels (i.e. , close to control subjects' values). These results, which reflect the likely biphasic effect of alcohol ingestion upon 5-HT functioning, ar e consistent with the dimensional 5-HT hypothesis in psychiatric disor ders.