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. 1983;15(Suppl 3):393S–405S. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1983.tb02130.x

5-Hydroxytryptamine and depression

A model for the interaction of normal variance with pathology

F K Goodwin, R M Post
PMCID: PMC1427648  PMID: 6190490

Abstract

1 Theories linking 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) with depression are briefly reviewed. The various experimental strategies adopted to investigate this relationship, examination of autopsy data, CSF metabolite data, 5-HT re-uptake patterns in human blood platelets and imipramine binding studies in human platelets, are discussed.

2 Recent studies of 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) levels in cerebrospinal fluid have revealed a linkage between low 5-HIAA levels and suicide, aggression and impulsivity. Decreases in the number of imipramine binding sites have also been found in brains of suicide victims.

3 The available data lead to the conclusion that decreased 5-hydroxytryptaminergic function may be associated with an increased risk of depression, suicide, and some types of aggression.

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Selected References

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