Blood serotonin levels correlate with depression and other psychiatric diseases
the verdict
CONTESTED
contested - evenly split
refutedsupported
the weight of evidence
4 sources for · 3 against
Some studies report reductions or alterations in blood and platelet serotonin or transporter levels in patients with major depression, while other comprehensive reviews and plasma analyses conclude there is limited or no reliable evidence supporting a direct correlation between serotonin levels and depression.
The success of serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitors has lent support to the monoamine theory of major depressive disorder (MDD). This issue has been addressed in a number of molecular imaging studies by positron emission tomography or single-photon emission computed tomography of serotonin reuptake sites (5-HTT) in the brain of patients with MDD, with strikingly disparate conclusions. Our meta-analysis of the 18 such studies, totaling 364 MDD patients free from significant comorbidities or medication and 372 control subjects, revealed reductions in midbrain 5-HTT (Hedges' g = −0.49; 95% CI: (−0.84, −0.14)) and amygdala (Hedges' g = −0.50; 95% CI: (−0.78, −0.22)), which no individual study possessed sufficient power to detect. Only small effect sizes were found in other regions with high binding (thalamus: g = −0.24, striatum: g = −0.32, and brainstem g = −0.22), and no difference in the frontal or cingulate cortex. Age emerged as an important moderator of 5-HTT availability in MDD, with more severe reductions in striatal 5-HTT evident with greater age of the study populations ( P<0.01). There was a strong relationship between severity of depression and 5-HTT reductions in the amygdala ( P = 0.01). Thus, molecular imaging findings indeed reveal widespread reductions of ˜10% in 5-HTT availability in MDD, which may predict altered spatial-temporal dynamics of serotonergic neurotransmission.
In a rigorous review, Dr. Joanna Moncrieff and colleagues find only very limited evidence for a direct role of serotonin levels and transport in major depression. They strongly suggest avoiding further promulgation of the “serotonin hypothesis of depression.” Although numerous psychiatrists have agreed that serotonin levels alone do not explain the complex phenomenon of depression, Moncrieff et al. are concerned that our field is “shrugging off the findings.” In conclusion, I suggest 2 concrete steps addressing the main concerns that gave rise to this new review.
[Reduction of platelet serotonin in major depression (endogenous depression)].
Serum serotonin (5-HT) levels were measured in several patients with psychiatric disorders using high pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. A marked reduction in 5-HT levels was found in male and female patients with major depressive disorder, as compared to controls, but not in dysthymic disorder. These modifications may constitute biochemical changes suggestive of major depressive disorders; they could not be attributed to chronic antidepressant treatment.
Published in Comptes rendus des seances de l'Academie des sciences. Serie III, Sciences de la vie (1982)
Lymphocytes possess transporters of serotonin and dopamine, and also contain monoamines. The objective of this work was to determine the presence of noradrenaline transporters, the turnover rate of noradrenaline and serotonin in lymphocytes of major depression patients, and to correlate the biochemical parameters with the severity of the disorder. Lymphocytes from peripheral blood were isolated by Ficoll/Hypaque, and noradrenaline transporter was studied by binding of [3H]nisoxetine: control group (29, age 31.52+/-1.08, 7 men) and major depression patients (35, age 36.68+/-1.69, 6 men), Hospital Vargas de Caracas. Diagnostic was done by criteria of the American Psychiatric Association and severity by Hamilton Scale for Depression. Levels of noradrenaline, serotonin, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were determined by HPLC. Turnover rate was evaluated by the ratios of monoamines and metabolites. Correlations were done between the biochemical parameters and the severity of depression. The score of Hamilton for Depression was 22.77+/-0.51. There was a reduction in the number of transporters in lymphocytes of patients, 0.95+/-0.27 versus 4.06+/-1.67 fmol/10(6) cells. Levels of monoamines and metabolites did not significantly differ between patients and controls. However, there was a higher monoamine/metabolite ratio in lymphocytes of patients, indicating a reduction of metabolic turnover rate. Also there was a relative greater concentration of noradr
reported in depressive disorders and other psychiatric diseases. In an attempt to elucidate … (CSF) AVP levels correlate well. In one study of patients with degenerative and other neurologic … studies have reported that depression and other psychiatric dis¬ orders of childhood are
Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. Impaired neurogenesis is observed in depression. Studying the concentration of biochemical indicators in the blood that may be involved in the pathogenesis of depression, looking for associations with the severity of depressive symptoms can be useful as an objective diagnosis of the disease and predicting the severity of the pathology. We determined plasma concentrations of the monoamine neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, and neurotrophic factors involved in neurogenesis (BDNF, CDNF and neuropeptide Y) in depressed patients and healthy volunteers with the same socio-demographic parameters using enzyme immunoassay and mass spectrometry. All study participants were administered the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), and the Center for Epidemiological Studies (CES-D). The cumulative scores on the three scales examined were significantly higher in depressed patients than in controls. The concentration of serotonin, dopamine, BDNF, CDNF, and neuropeptide Y in plasma did not differ between the subject groups and was not associated with the scores on the scales. Positive correlations were found between the content of neuropeptide Y and serotonin, BDNF and CDNF in blood plasma. Thus, although these markers are related to the pathophysiology of depression, they do not correlate with the severity of symptomatology and possibly in plasma cannot reflect processes occurring
claim that low serotonin levels cause depression is not supported by scientific evidence. Serotonin primarily acts through its receptors and its effects
Serotonin (), also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a monoamine neurotransmitter with a wide range of functions in both the central nervous system (CNS) and also peripheral tissues. It is involved in mood, cognition, reward, learning, memory, and physiological processes such as vomiting and vasoconstriction. In the CNS, serotonin regulates mood, appetite, and sleep.
Most of the body's serot
Serotonin…
Everything we examined (7)
This check searched the claim as stated. It did not run a separate search for evidence against it.