Lymphocyte peripheral benzodiazepine receptor mRNA decreases in obsessive-compulsive disorder

The relative content of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (pBR) mRNA was e xamined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in lymphocytes o f obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients, according to their clinical course of illness. pBR mRNA significantly decreased only in chronic OCD pa tients (n = 8) as compared to controls (n = 10), whereas no significant cha nges were observed in episodic OCD patients (n = 7). We suggest that modula tion of pBR gene expression might delineate a clinical heterogeneity in OCD . (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.