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Dysfunction of the central serotonergic system has been associated with depression
in Parkinson's disease. To evaluate central serotonergic function in Parkinson's disease
in relation to depression, we examined prolactin and cortisol responses to a single-dose
challenge with fenfluramine (60 mg orally), a serotonin releasing/uptake-inhibiting
agent, in the course of 5 hours in 11 patients with Parkinson's disease associated
with major depression (SADS-RDC), 22 nondepressed parkinsonians, and 20 age- and gender-matched
healthy controls. No difference in cortisol responses were observed between the groups;
however, prolactin responses to fenfluramine were significantly impaired in patients
with Parkinson's disease compared to controls, and the response was significantly
more blunted in parkinsonian patients with major depression in comparison with the
nondepressed ones. These findings indicate that there is a diminished serotonergic
responsivity in depression associated with Parkinson's disease.
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Article info
Publication history
Received in revised form:
September 5,
1995
Received:
April 10,
1995
Identification
Copyright
© 1996 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc.
