Cognition following acute tryptophan depletion: difference between first-degree relatives of bipolar disorder patients and matched healthy control volunteers

摘要: BACKGROUND: Serotonergic circuits have been proposed to mediate cognitive processes, particularly learning and memory. Cognitive impairment is often seen in bipolar disorders relation a possible lowered serotonergic turnover. METHODS: We investigated the effects of acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) on performance healthy first-degree relatives patients (FH) (N= 30) matched controls 15) placebo-controlled, double-blind cross-over design. Performance planning, memory attention tasks were assessed at baseline 5 h after ATD. RESULTS: Following ATD, speed information processing planning task was impaired FH group but not control group. subjects with disorder type I relative (FH I) showed impairments memory, independent In all subjects, ATD long-term processing. did affect short-term focused divided attention. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest vulnerability affecting frontal lobe areas indicated by planning. Biological reflected performance. conclusion, dysfunctions indicate an endophenotype constituting biological marker psychopathology. Serotonin appears be involved processing, verbal visual processes.