THE SEROTONIN SYNDROME SCALE - FIRST RESULTS ON VALIDITY

As a modification of the diagnostic criteria of the serotonin syndrome proposed by Sternbach, we developed the Serotonin syndrome scale for the operationalized assessment of both the presence and the severity o f the core symptoms of the serotonin syndrome. In a first study on the validity of this scale, the relationships between the serotonin syndr ome score (SSS) and both the paroxetine plasma levels (n = 42) and the loudness dependence of the auditory evoked potentials (LDAEP; n = 24) were investigated in depressed patients treated with paroxetine. A st rong LDAEP is supposed to indicate low central serotonergic neurotrans mission, and vice verse. The SSS was positively related to paroxetine plasma levels and negatively to the LDAEP. Both results support the va lidity of the serotonin syndrome scale. Using a SSS > 6 as diagnostic criterion, mild serotonin syndromes were diagnosed in 5 of our 42 pati ents. The Serotonin syndrome scale may become a useful tool for clinic ians and scientists dealing with the serotonin syndrome.