OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore central serotonergic functions in subgroups of alcoholics and in healthy comparison subjects. METHOD: The mixed serotonin (5-HT) agonist/antagonist m-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP) was administered to male alcoholic patients who were classified according to the criteria of von Knorring et al. as type I alcoholics (late onset) (N = 16) or type II alcoholics (early onset with antisocial traits) (N = 24) and to 22 healthy comparison subjects. Psychological, physiological, and neuroendocrine measures were obtained before and after the m-CPP infusion. RESULTS: m-CPP elicited subtype-related differential effects among the alcoholics; the type I alcoholics reported more anger and anxiety, and the type II alcoholics reported increased euphoria and a greater likelihood of drinking. The healthy comparison subjects exhibited a greater increase in plasma ACTH response to the m-CPP infusion than the alcoholics regardless of subtype. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in certain 5-HT receptor functions may explain some of the clinical characteristics that differentiate the type II and type I subgroups of alcoholic patients. Furthermore, alcoholics may have reduced sensitivity of 5-HT2C receptors in comparison with healthy subjects.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore central serotonergic functions in subgroups of alcoholics and in healthy comparison subjects. METHOD: The mixed serotonin (5-HT) agonist/antagonist m-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP) was administered to male alcoholicpatients who were classified according to the criteria of von Knorring et al. as type I alcoholics (late onset) (N = 16) or type II alcoholics (early onset with antisocial traits) (N = 24) and to 22 healthy comparison subjects. Psychological, physiological, and neuroendocrine measures were obtained before and after the m-CPP infusion. RESULTS:m-CPP elicited subtype-related differential effects among the alcoholics; the type I alcoholics reported more anger and anxiety, and the type II alcoholics reported increased euphoria and a greater likelihood of drinking. The healthy comparison subjects exhibited a greater increase in plasma ACTH response to the m-CPP infusion than the alcoholics regardless of subtype. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in certain 5-HT receptor functions may explain some of the clinical characteristics that differentiate the type II and type I subgroups of alcoholicpatients. Furthermore, alcoholics may have reduced sensitivity of 5-HT2C receptors in comparison with healthy subjects.
Authors: John C Umhau; Melanie L Schwandt; Julie Usala; Christopher Geyer; Erick Singley; David T George; Markus Heilig Journal: Neuropsychopharmacology Date: 2011-02-02 Impact factor: 7.853
Authors: Ashwin A Patkar; Paolo Mannelli; Kathleen Peindl; Kevin P Hill; Raman Gopalakrishnan; Wade H Berrettini Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2006-01-17 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: D Hommer; P Andreasen; D Rio; W Williams; U Ruttimann; R Momenan; A Zametkin; R Rawlings; M Linnoila Journal: J Neurosci Date: 1997-04-15 Impact factor: 6.167