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Joensuu M, Ahola P, Knekt P, Lindfors O, Saarinen P, Tolmunen T, Valkonen-Korhonen M, Vanninen R, Jääskeläinen T, Virtala E, Kuikka J, Tiihonen J, Lehtonen J. Baseline symptom severity predicts serotonin transporter change during psychotherapy in patients with major depression. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2016; 70:34-41. [PMID: 26311446 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2014] [Revised: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The role of the serotonin transporter (SERT) in the pathophysiology of depression is unclear and only a few follow-up studies exist. Our aim was to measure changes in SERT availability during psychodynamic psychotherapy in patients with major depression over a follow-up time of 12 or 18 months. METHODS The patients were studied with iodine-123 labelled 2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl) serial single-photon emission tomography imaging and clinical rating scales of symptoms. RESULTS Changes in SERT availability had no correlation with the change of symptoms, but the change of SERT availability during psychotherapy in the midbrain was predicted by the baseline severity of the clinical symptoms measured by the Symptom Checklist Depression Scale and the Symptom Checklist Global Severity Index. With cut-off values applied, it was found that SERT availabilities increased in patients with high baseline symptoms, and decreased in patients with low baseline symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Together with our earlier finding of decreased SERT in patients with depression, these results indicate a state-dependent and possibly a compensatory role of decreased SERT availability in depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikko Joensuu
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pasi Ahola
- University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Paul Knekt
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olavi Lindfors
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pirjo Saarinen
- Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.,Kuopio Psychiatric Center, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Tommi Tolmunen
- Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Minna Valkonen-Korhonen
- University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Ritva Vanninen
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | - Esa Virtala
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jyrki Kuikka
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johannes Lehtonen
- Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.,National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
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