NO EARLY EFFECTS OF ELECTROCONVULSIVE-THERAPY ON TRYPTOPHAN-METABOLISM AND DISPOSITION IN ENDOGENOUS-DEPRESSION

The possibility that a single electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) could in crease tryptophan (Trp) availability to the brain for 5-hydroxytryptam ine (5-HT, serotonin) synthesis was examined in 10 depressed patients before and during the 1st hour following an ECT and in 4 control (mino r ear, nose, and throat surgical) subjects receiving similar premedica tion. Trp availability to the brain, expressed as the serum Trp: compe ting amino acid ratio, and related aspects of Trp disposition were nor significantly altered by ECT and differently than from preoperative s tress and premedication. We suggest that Trp availability to the brain and, hence, cerebral 5-HT synthesis are not altered in depressed pati ents early after a single ECT. (C) 1997 Society of Biological Psychiat ry.