Stress Hormone Dynamics Are Coupled to Brain Serotonin 4 Receptor Availability in Unmedicated Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: A NeuroPharm Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A prominent finding in major depressive disorder (MDD) is distorted stress hormone dynamics, which is regulated by serotonergic brain signaling. An interesting feature of the cerebral serotonin system is the serotonin 4 receptor (5-HT4R), which is lower in depressed relative to healthy individuals and also has been highlighted as a promising novel antidepressant target. Here, we test the novel hypothesis that brain 5-HT4R availability in untreated patients with MDD is correlated with cortisol dynamics, indexed by the cortisol awakening response (CAR). Further, we evaluate if CAR changes with antidepressant treatment, including a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, and if pretreatment CAR can predict treatment outcome.

Methods

Sixty-six patients (76% women) wit

SUBMITTER: Vulpius GM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10519814 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature