- Email: [email protected]
184. Tryptophan depletion in premenstrual dysphoric disorder
54s
BIOLPSYCHIATRY 1998;43:1S-133S
=56.3t14.5; controls =25.5*7.3, p=0.001; FTSD Beck Depression Inventory=29.1* 15.8;controls=2.2* 2.6,p= O.001).Binaurrdpresentation of 60 stimulieach of 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100dBin randomorder were administeredthrough headphones.EEG epochs containingthe evokedresponseswere averagedatler epochs containingartifact were excluded.AEPamplitudes,measuredmarmafly,wereplottedagainstthe intensities,and slopes were calculatedusing the least squaresmethod. We foundno differencebetweenthe PTSDand controlgroupsin AEP amplitudeor the AA slopes: both groups had primarilypositive AA slopes.Differencesbetweenthe findingsin this studyand those previouslyreportedmay relate to state-traitfactors.Becausethe AEPsvary with central serotonirractivities,SSRIpharmacotherapymay normalize abnormalsensoryprocessingin P’T.SD.
Thursday Abstracts
sponses (SCR) in 19 Vietnam veterans with Y1’SDand 20 normal comparisonsubjects in an auditory classical conditioningparadigm. Subjectsheard severaldifferent70dBtones throughheadphonesduring habituation.During20 conditioningtrials, the unconditionedstimulus (1OWB)was paired with one of the original tones (CS) for six presentations.Then the CS was presentedafone 12 times during the extinction phase. Results showed equivalent patterns of acquisition across groups but delayed and inconsistentextinction among PTSD patients.Significantlymore PTSDthan controlsubjectsfailed to reach the criterionfor extinction(X2 (1)=3.7, p<.05). This result suggests dysfunctionin the neural mechanismsunderlyingsensory learning in PTSD,namely,ineffectiveinhibitionof CRS.This observationmay be related to the fact that the FTSD symptoms of hyperarousal and re-experiencingtendto be resistantto extinctionin spite of treatmentor the passageof time.
182. AN “ANTIDEPRESSANT” L.M. Konopka1”2,K. Getzl’3, F. O’Connorl, D. Hanrtum4, I.J. Youngl, M. Primeaul’3 & J.W. Craytonl’2 IBiologicalPsychiatryLabs,HinesV.A. Hospital,Hines,IL 60141 2LoyolaUniversityMedicafSchool,Maywo@ Il. 601533Finch Universityof HealthSciences/ChicagoMedicalSchool,North Chicago,Il. 60064‘BodyManagementCenter,Nortlrtield,IL 60093 Exerciseis associatedwith both antidepressantand antianxietyeffects, howeverlittfe is knownaboutthe effectsof exerciseon brain electrical activity thoughtto underliemood states. Davidsonhas suggestedthat increasesin left frontafafphaactivityare associatedwithpositiveaffect andincreasesin rightfrontalalphaactivitywithnegativeaffect.This&ta suggeststhe hypothesisthat the mood-elevatingeffectsof exercisewill be associatedwith an increasein left frontalalphaactivity.To test this hypothesis,9 healthymafesubjectswhoexerciseregularlywere studied beforeandaftera strenuous30minuteworkoutat 75%of theiranaerobic threshold.ParametersstudiedwereEEGactivityin eyesclosedandopen states as well as auditory evoked potentials (AEP). EEG data was recorded from 27 cephalic sites and pm-post topographicstatistical parametric maps were generated. The results of this study show a significantinfluenceof exerciseon the distributionof alpha frequency power.Alphapowerincreasedmost signiticantfyin the left frontaland anteriortemporalregions.AEP’sshoweda decreasein amplitudeat 80 and 90 dB, and the slope of the amplitude-intensitycurve decreased. These data are consistentwith the hypothesisthat exercise produces measurablealterationsin brain activity in ways that would suggesta mood-elevatingeffect.
183. CONDITIONING TO NEUTRAL STIMULI IN PTSD SHOWS RESISTANCE TO EXTINCTION
IFinchUniversityof HeafthScience~e ChicagoMedicalSchool, NortbChicago,IL 60064;‘HinesVA MedicalCenter,Hines,IL 60141;3LoyolaMedicalCenter,Maywood,IL 60153 Althoughseverafstudieshave demonstratedincreasedphysiologicreactivity (e.g., exaggerated startfe) to neutral stimuli in patients with Post-traumaticStress Disorder(PTSD),no studies have examinedthe acquisitionand extinctionof conditionedresponses(CR)to non-trauma relatedstimuli.Thepurposeof this studywas to test the hypothesisthat PTSDpatientswouldshownormalacquisitionof CRs but resistanceto extinctioncomparedto controls. We measured skin conductancere-
184. TRYPTOPHAN DEPLETION IN PREMENSTRUAL DYSPHORIC DISORDER A.C. Heath, K.A. Yonkers, P. Orsulak, M.J. Bennett, R. Koortce & A.J. Rush The Universityof TexasSouthwesternMedicrdCenter,Daflas,Texas Dysregulationof serotonergicneurotransmissionhas been linked to premenstrualdysphoricmooddisorder(PMDD).This study examined the mood effects of depletingthe precursor to aerotorrin,tryptophrm (Trp). PMDDwomenwere administereda diet and drink which contained rdl neutrrdaminoacids minusTrp, diningthe follicular(aaymptomatic)phase of their menstmrdcycle. Mncd was measuredusingthe Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Clinicirm Rated Version (IDS-C)at baselineand atler 24 hours,and the profile of MoodStates (POMS)at baselineandsixhours.Levelsof Trpwereobtainedby HPLC arrafysisof serum.Patients(n= 14)weregivena lowTrpdietfor 24hours with subsequentadministrationof an aminoacid cocktailcontaining19, 50,75, or 100gramsof a balancedaminoacid mixturewithoutTrp or a controldiet and cocktail(Vivonex@).Subjectswere tested twice under double-blindconditions.Worsenedmoodcorrespondedwith increasing amountsof amino acids withoutTrp. Trp levels also decreasedwith administrationof larger amountsof non-tryptopharraminoacids. After six hours, Trp concentrationschangedas follows. Vivonex@:5.6uM (SD+/-l.6); 19gramsaminoacidin solution:16.5uM(+/-1.2); 50grams aminoacid: 22.5uM(+/-1.5); 75 gramsaminoacids: 34.5uM(+/-1.5). This smaflpilot studyis consistentwith others showingTrp depletion lowersmood.Finafly,this studysuggeststhat Vivonex@is an available optionfor the bafancedaminoacid drink(containingTrp) used in other studies,an importantconsiderationgiventhe incidenceof eosinophiliamyafgiasyndromeseen with Trp dietarysupplementation.
185. DEHYDROEPANDROSTERONE ADMINISTRATION IN DEMENTED PATIENTS AND NONDEMENTED ELDERLY VOLUNTEERS R. Dukoff, S. Molchan, K. Putnam, J. Lai & T. Sunderland NationalInstituteof MentalHerdtfrGeriatricPsychiatryBranch Bethesda,MD Purpose:This preliminarycfirricaltrirdwas conductedto assessthecogrritive
and behavioraleffects of oral administrationof Dehydroepiandrostemne
BIOLPSYCHIATRY 1998;43:1S-133S
=56.3t14.5; controls =25.5*7.3, p=0.001; FTSD Beck Depression Inventory=29.1* 15.8;controls=2.2* 2.6,p= O.001).Binaurrdpresentation of 60 stimulieach of 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100dBin randomorder were administeredthrough headphones.EEG epochs containingthe evokedresponseswere averagedatler epochs containingartifact were excluded.AEPamplitudes,measuredmarmafly,wereplottedagainstthe intensities,and slopes were calculatedusing the least squaresmethod. We foundno differencebetweenthe PTSDand controlgroupsin AEP amplitudeor the AA slopes: both groups had primarilypositive AA slopes.Differencesbetweenthe findingsin this studyand those previouslyreportedmay relate to state-traitfactors.Becausethe AEPsvary with central serotonirractivities,SSRIpharmacotherapymay normalize abnormalsensoryprocessingin P’T.SD.
Thursday Abstracts
sponses (SCR) in 19 Vietnam veterans with Y1’SDand 20 normal comparisonsubjects in an auditory classical conditioningparadigm. Subjectsheard severaldifferent70dBtones throughheadphonesduring habituation.During20 conditioningtrials, the unconditionedstimulus (1OWB)was paired with one of the original tones (CS) for six presentations.Then the CS was presentedafone 12 times during the extinction phase. Results showed equivalent patterns of acquisition across groups but delayed and inconsistentextinction among PTSD patients.Significantlymore PTSDthan controlsubjectsfailed to reach the criterionfor extinction(X2 (1)=3.7, p<.05). This result suggests dysfunctionin the neural mechanismsunderlyingsensory learning in PTSD,namely,ineffectiveinhibitionof CRS.This observationmay be related to the fact that the FTSD symptoms of hyperarousal and re-experiencingtendto be resistantto extinctionin spite of treatmentor the passageof time.
182. AN “ANTIDEPRESSANT” L.M. Konopka1”2,K. Getzl’3, F. O’Connorl, D. Hanrtum4, I.J. Youngl, M. Primeaul’3 & J.W. Craytonl’2 IBiologicalPsychiatryLabs,HinesV.A. Hospital,Hines,IL 60141 2LoyolaUniversityMedicafSchool,Maywo@ Il. 601533Finch Universityof HealthSciences/ChicagoMedicalSchool,North Chicago,Il. 60064‘BodyManagementCenter,Nortlrtield,IL 60093 Exerciseis associatedwith both antidepressantand antianxietyeffects, howeverlittfe is knownaboutthe effectsof exerciseon brain electrical activity thoughtto underliemood states. Davidsonhas suggestedthat increasesin left frontafafphaactivityare associatedwithpositiveaffect andincreasesin rightfrontalalphaactivitywithnegativeaffect.This&ta suggeststhe hypothesisthat the mood-elevatingeffectsof exercisewill be associatedwith an increasein left frontalalphaactivity.To test this hypothesis,9 healthymafesubjectswhoexerciseregularlywere studied beforeandaftera strenuous30minuteworkoutat 75%of theiranaerobic threshold.ParametersstudiedwereEEGactivityin eyesclosedandopen states as well as auditory evoked potentials (AEP). EEG data was recorded from 27 cephalic sites and pm-post topographicstatistical parametric maps were generated. The results of this study show a significantinfluenceof exerciseon the distributionof alpha frequency power.Alphapowerincreasedmost signiticantfyin the left frontaland anteriortemporalregions.AEP’sshoweda decreasein amplitudeat 80 and 90 dB, and the slope of the amplitude-intensitycurve decreased. These data are consistentwith the hypothesisthat exercise produces measurablealterationsin brain activity in ways that would suggesta mood-elevatingeffect.
183. CONDITIONING TO NEUTRAL STIMULI IN PTSD SHOWS RESISTANCE TO EXTINCTION
IFinchUniversityof HeafthScience~e ChicagoMedicalSchool, NortbChicago,IL 60064;‘HinesVA MedicalCenter,Hines,IL 60141;3LoyolaMedicalCenter,Maywood,IL 60153 Althoughseverafstudieshave demonstratedincreasedphysiologicreactivity (e.g., exaggerated startfe) to neutral stimuli in patients with Post-traumaticStress Disorder(PTSD),no studies have examinedthe acquisitionand extinctionof conditionedresponses(CR)to non-trauma relatedstimuli.Thepurposeof this studywas to test the hypothesisthat PTSDpatientswouldshownormalacquisitionof CRs but resistanceto extinctioncomparedto controls. We measured skin conductancere-
184. TRYPTOPHAN DEPLETION IN PREMENSTRUAL DYSPHORIC DISORDER A.C. Heath, K.A. Yonkers, P. Orsulak, M.J. Bennett, R. Koortce & A.J. Rush The Universityof TexasSouthwesternMedicrdCenter,Daflas,Texas Dysregulationof serotonergicneurotransmissionhas been linked to premenstrualdysphoricmooddisorder(PMDD).This study examined the mood effects of depletingthe precursor to aerotorrin,tryptophrm (Trp). PMDDwomenwere administereda diet and drink which contained rdl neutrrdaminoacids minusTrp, diningthe follicular(aaymptomatic)phase of their menstmrdcycle. Mncd was measuredusingthe Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Clinicirm Rated Version (IDS-C)at baselineand atler 24 hours,and the profile of MoodStates (POMS)at baselineandsixhours.Levelsof Trpwereobtainedby HPLC arrafysisof serum.Patients(n= 14)weregivena lowTrpdietfor 24hours with subsequentadministrationof an aminoacid cocktailcontaining19, 50,75, or 100gramsof a balancedaminoacid mixturewithoutTrp or a controldiet and cocktail(Vivonex@).Subjectswere tested twice under double-blindconditions.Worsenedmoodcorrespondedwith increasing amountsof amino acids withoutTrp. Trp levels also decreasedwith administrationof larger amountsof non-tryptopharraminoacids. After six hours, Trp concentrationschangedas follows. Vivonex@:5.6uM (SD+/-l.6); 19gramsaminoacidin solution:16.5uM(+/-1.2); 50grams aminoacid: 22.5uM(+/-1.5); 75 gramsaminoacids: 34.5uM(+/-1.5). This smaflpilot studyis consistentwith others showingTrp depletion lowersmood.Finafly,this studysuggeststhat Vivonex@is an available optionfor the bafancedaminoacid drink(containingTrp) used in other studies,an importantconsiderationgiventhe incidenceof eosinophiliamyafgiasyndromeseen with Trp dietarysupplementation.
185. DEHYDROEPANDROSTERONE ADMINISTRATION IN DEMENTED PATIENTS AND NONDEMENTED ELDERLY VOLUNTEERS R. Dukoff, S. Molchan, K. Putnam, J. Lai & T. Sunderland NationalInstituteof MentalHerdtfrGeriatricPsychiatryBranch Bethesda,MD Purpose:This preliminarycfirricaltrirdwas conductedto assessthecogrritive
and behavioraleffects of oral administrationof Dehydroepiandrostemne