Tryptophan depletion and risk of depression relapse: a prospective study of tryptophan depletion as a potential predictor of depressive episodes

Background: This study investigated the relationship between depressive symptom response during tryptophan depletion and future depressive episodes. Methods: Twelve subjects with prior major depressive episodes in remission and medication-free for ≥3 months (patients), and 12 matched healthy (contro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological psychiatry (1969) 2000-08, Vol.48 (4), p.327-329
Main Authors: Moreno, Francisco A, Heninger, George R, McGahuey, Cynthia A, Delgado, Pedro L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Biological and medical sciences
Cross-Over Studies
depletion paradigm
Depression
Depressive Disorder, Major - diagnosis
Depressive Disorder, Major - metabolism
Depressive Disorder, Major - therapy
Double-Blind Method
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
major depression
Male
Medical sciences
Mood disorders
Predictive Value of Tests
Prospective Studies
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Recurrence
Risk Factors
serotonin
Severity of Illness Index
Tryptophan - deficiency
Vulnerability
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Summary:Background: This study investigated the relationship between depressive symptom response during tryptophan depletion and future depressive episodes. Methods: Twelve subjects with prior major depressive episodes in remission and medication-free for ≥3 months (patients), and 12 matched healthy (control) subjects received two tryptophan depletion tests 1 week apart. During follow-up the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was administered weekly for 1 month, monthly for 3 months, and once at 6 and 12 months. Results: With results from both tests, tryptophan depletion has a sensitivity of 78%, specificity of 80%, positive predictive value of 70%, and negative predictive value of 86% to identify future depressive episodes. Survival analysis shows that mood response to tryptophan depletion reliably predicts major depressive episodes during the follow-up year ( r = .2725, p = .014). Conclusions: Tryptophan depletion may be clinically useful in identifying individuals at risk for future major depressive episodes.
ISSN:0006-3223
1873-2402
DOI:10.1016/S0006-3223(00)00893-3