Abstract
The catecholaminergic system1 and the indoleaminergic system2 have been postulated to be abnormal in the affective disorders. Considerable support exists for at least some disturbance in these systems in a substantial proportion of affective disorder patients. The exact character of these abnormalities remains to be determined. However, abnormalities in noradrenergic metabolites in body fluids3 as well as abnormalities in adrenergic receptor responsiveness4 have been found in depressed patients. Decreased concentrations of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA)5 and prolactin responses to serotonergic challenges6,7 have also been demonstrated in patients with major depressive disorder.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Schildkraut JJ: The catecholamine hypothesis of affective disorders: a review of supporting evidence. Am J Psychiatry 1965; 122: 509–522.
Murphy DL, Campbell LC, Costa JL. The brain serotonergic system in the affective disorders. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol 1978; 2: 1–31.
Koslow JJ, Maas JW, Bowden CL, et al. CSF and urinary biogenic amines and metabolites in depression and mania. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1983; 40: 999–1010.
Siever LJ, Uhde TW: New studies and perspectives on the noradrenaline receptor system in depression: effects of the alpha-adrenergic agonist clonidine. Biol Psychiatry 1984; 190: 131–156.
Van Praag HM. Neurotransmitters and CNS disease. Lancet 1982; 2: 1259–1264.
Siever LJ, Murphy DL, Slater S, et al. Plasma prolactin changes following fenfluramine in depressed patients compared to controls: an evaluation of central serotonergic responsivity in depression. Life Sci 1984; 34: 1029–1039.
Heninger GR, Charney DS, Sternberg DE: Serotonergic function in depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1984; 41: 398–402.
Pickar D, Sweeney DR, Maas JW, et al: Primary affective disorder, clinical state change and MHPG excretion: a longitudinal study. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1978; 35: 1378–1381.
Asberg M, Thoren P, Traskman L, et al: “Serotonin depression”—a biochemical subgroup within the affective disorders? Science 1976; 191: 478–480.
Siever LJ, Coccaro EF, Benjamin E, et al. Adrenergic and serotonergic receptor responsiveness in depression. In: Depression, Antidepressants and Receptor Sensitivity. CIBA Foundation Symposium 123 Chichester UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 1986; 148–169.
Hoehe M, Valido G, Matussek N. Growth hormone response to clonidine in endogenous depressive patients: evidence for a trait marker in depression. In Shagass C, et al (eds): Proceedings of the World Congress of Biologic Psychiatry. New York: Elsevier, 1986.
Siever LJ, Davis KL. Overview: towards a dysregulation hypothesis of depression. Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142: 1017–1031.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1989 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Siever, L.J., Coccaro, E.F., Friedman, R., Rubinstein, K., Davis, K.L. (1989). Noradrenergic and Serotonergic Dysfunction in the Affective Disorders. In: Lerer, B., Gershon, S. (eds) New Directions in Affective Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3524-8_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3524-8_10
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-96769-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-3524-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive