PARENTERAL CLOMIPRAMINE CHALLENGE IN DEPRESSED ADOLESCENTS - MOOD ANDNEUROENDOCRINE RESPONSE

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) in the adolescent demonstr ates a unique clinical profile, and pathogenic serotonergic dysregulat ion is hypothesized. Parenteral clomipramine (CMI) is known to disting uish adult MDD from control, but neurochallenge data are lacking in ad olescent MDD, Methods: Thirteen drug-free outpatient adolescents who m et DSM-III-R criteria for MDD were compared to adolescent controls by acute neuroendocrine and mood response to 12.5 mg of parenteral CMI, R esults: Repeated measures analysis revealed significant changes from b aseline for sadness (p < .01) between groups, with normal controls inc reasing sadness rating after CMI. Prolactin (PRL) maximum change score from baseline was decreased in MDD relative to controls (p < .05). Ge nder effects on PRL were evident in controls but nor in MDD. Conclusio ns: The findings of PRL blunting in adolescent MDD mirrors previous wo rk in adults. A unique finding is the induction of sadness in normal a dolescent controls after CMI infusion. (C) 1998 Society of Biological Psychiatry.