PROLACTIN RESPONSE TO D-FENFLURAMINE IN OUTPATIENTS WITH MAJOR DEPRESSION

There is much indirect evidence of serotonin abnormalities in patients with major depression. Unfortunately, previous reports of serotonin c hallenge studies in depressed patients have yielded conflicting result s. In order to test the serotonin hypothesis of depression, the author s compared 20 outpatients with major depressive disorder to 20 normal control subjects using prolactin response to D-fenfluramine as a measu re of central serotonergic (5-HT) functioning. Patients were free of h istories of suicidal behavior and had no Axis IT disorders. There were no significant differences in prolactin responses between depressed p atients and control subjects to challenge with D-fenfluramine at a dos e of 0.5 mg/kg. The possible implications of these findings are discus sed with respect to theories regarding biological vulnerabilities to m ajor depression. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights res erved.