Abstract
Background
A central serotonergic dysfunction is considered to be involved in the pathophysiology
of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The aim of this study was to investigate the
serotonin transporter availability in patients with OCD as an in vivo marker of the
central serotonergic system.
Methods
Nine unmedicated (7 drug-naive) patients with OCD and 10 healthy control subjects
were included and received single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) 20.75
± 1.51 hours after injection of a mean 147.20 ± 6.74 MBq [123I]-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl)tropane ([123I]β-CIT). As a measure of brain serotonin transporter availability, a ratio of specific-to-nonspecific
[123I]β-CIT binding for the midbrain-pons (V3″ = [midbrain/pons-occipital]/occipital) was used.
Results
Mean specific-to-nonspecific ratios showed a 25% higher midbrain-pons [123I]β-CIT binding in the patients as compared with healthy controls (2.26 ± .37 vs.
1.81 ± .23, p < .01). The difference remained significant after adjustment for clinical variables
and controlling for age and gender. Stratification of the patients according to onset
of the disorder revealed significant differences between controls and patients with
early (childhood, adolescence) but not late (adult) onset of OCD.
Conclusions
The study provides evidence of a serotonergic dysfunction in patients with OCD and
suggests a serotonergic component in the pathophysiology of the disorder.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 27,
2003
Received in revised form:
January 24,
2003
Received:
November 11,
2002
Identification
Copyright
© 2003 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
