THE ANTERIOR-PITUITARY RESPONDS NORMALLY TO PROTIRELIN IN OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER - EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT A NEUROENDOCRINE SEROTONERGICDEFICIT

The prolactin and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) responses to proti relin and the prolactin and cortisol responses to d-fenfluramine were measured in 8 outpatients with DSM-III-R obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The results were compared to those in 8 age- and sex-matched h ealthy controls. The responses to d-fenfluramine were significantly at tenuated in the OCD patients, but there was no significant difference between the responses to protirelin in OCD patients and healthy contro ls. The data suggest that, in OCD, blunting of prolactin responses to the serotonin-releasing agent d-fenfluramine is due to a central abnor mality and not due to a pituitary deficit.