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Reduced serotonin transporter–availability in obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD)

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Abstract.

We investigated the availability of brain serotonin transporters in 10 drug–free patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and age–matched healthy controls in vivo using single–photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and the radioligand [123I]–2β–carbomethoxy–3β–(4–idiophenyl)-tropane ([123I]β–CIT). For quantification of regional serotonin transporter a ratio of specific to non–specific [123I]β–CIT–binding was used. The availability of serotonin transporter was calculated using regions of interests (ROI) for thalamus/hypothalamus, midbrain, brainstem (highest density of serotonin transporter) and cerebellum as a reference. The mean specific to non–specific [123I]β–CIT binding ratios in the thalamic/hypothalamic ROI were 4.95 ± 0.57 (OCD patients), and 5.48 ± 0.87 (control group). The mean ratios in the midbrain ROI were 3.51 ± 0.45 (OCD patients) and 4.89 ± 1.23 (controls) and in the brainstem ROI the ratios were 2.38 ± 0.76 (OCD patients) and 3.53 ± 1.01 (controls). This in vivo finding of significant reduced serotonin transporter availability in midbrain/brainstem using [123I] β–CIT SPECT further supports the serotonin deficit hypothesis of OCD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    K. Stengler-Wenzke, U. Müller & M. C. Angermeyer

  2. Depts. of Psychiatry & Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    U. Müller

  3. Dept. of Nuclear Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    O. Sabri & S. Hesse

  4. Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 20, 04317, Leipzig, Germany

    K. Stengler-Wenzke

Authors
  1. K. Stengler-Wenzke
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  2. U. Müller
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  3. M. C. Angermeyer
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  4. O. Sabri
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  5. S. Hesse
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Stengler-Wenzke, K., Müller, U., Angermeyer, M.C. et al. Reduced serotonin transporter–availability in obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 254, 252–255 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-004-0489-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-004-0489-y

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