Relationship of social support to [3H]imipramine binding during and after examination stress.

The relationship between social support, depressive symptoms and the maximal binding capacity of [3H]imipramine (Bmax) in platelets was examined in medical students during and after a period of examination stress. There was a positive correlation between the students' perception of their social support and [3H]imipramine Bmax values during examinations, and their perception of social support contributed significantly to the prediction of Bmax by depressive symptomatology. The results suggest that psychosocial factors may be associated with alterations in serotonergic neurotransmission, rendering an individual more physiologically vulnerable to psychological disturbances.