MK4MDD

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Study Report

Reference

Citation	Yang, 2008 PubMed
Full Info	Yang, Y.K., Yeh, T.L., Yao, W.J., Lee, I.H., Chen, P.S., Chiu, N.T. and Lu, R.B. (2008) Greater availability of dopamine transporters in patients with major depression--a dual-isotope SPECT study. Psychiatry Res, 162, 230-235.

Study

Hypothesis or Background	In order to explore the neuropathology of the pre- and post-synaptic dopamine neurons of patients with major depression, we examined striatal D(2)/D(3) receptor uptake and dopamine transporter (DAT) availability simultaneously in drug-free depressed patients using a dual-isotope single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging technique.
Sample Information	Ten unmedicated patients with unmediated depression and ten healthy controls were recruited.
Method Detail	The striatal dopamine D(2)/D(3) receptor availability was measured using SPECT and [(123)I] IBZM, while DAT was measured using SPECT and [(99m)Tc] TRODAT-1. The symptom changes of the drug-free patients were reassessed after a 4-week antidepressant treatment.
Method Keywords	single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
Result	DAT binding in the patient group were significantly higher than in control group. That was not the case, however, for striatal D(2)/D(3) receptor availability. Pre-treatment striatal DAT availability correlated only marginally with changes in the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale after 4 weeks of treatment.
Conclusions	Central dopamine functions may be altered in patients with major depression, particularly in the pre-synaptic sites.

Relationships reported by Yang, 2008