Neurometabolic Disorders: Potentially Treatable Abnormalities in Patients With Treatment-Refractory Depression and Suicidal Behavior.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Treatment-refractory depression is a devastating condition with significant morbidity, mortality, and societal cost. At least 15% of cases of major depressive disorder remain refractory to treatment. The authors previously identified a young adult with treatment-refractory depression and multiple suicide attempts with an associated severe deficiency of CSF tetrahydrobiopterin, a critical cofactor for monoamine neurotransmitter synthesis. Treatment with sapropterin, a tetrahydrobiopterin analogue, led to dramatic and long-lasting remission of depression. This sentinel case led the authors to hypothesize that the incidence of metabolic abnormalities contributing to treatment-refractory depression is underrecognized.

Method

The authors conducted a case-control, target

SUBMITTER: Pan LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10171090 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature