| Abstract: | With the aim of examining a possible influence on memory from L-tryptophan (L-TP), a double-blind comparison of the anterograde dysmnesic effect after a unilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) series was carried out in depressive patients randomly assigned to two treatment groups, one receiving orally administered CTP (6 g daily) and ECT, the other placebo and ECT. The groups were similar in a number of background variables and in degree of depression. Scores for three operationally defined memory variables, immediate memory (IMS), delayed memory (DMS) and forgetting (FS), were obtained before the ECT series and 4 days after, the patients being on L-TP treatment or placebo on both occasions. The results were as follows: 1. Before treatment there was a higher FS in one test (30 Word-Pair Test) and after treatment a higher FS in another test (30 Face Test) in the L-TP group than in the placebo group, both findings indicating an adverse influence of L-TP. 2. There were a number of correlations between serum L-TP concentration levels and memory variables, all implying a more adverse influence on memory with higher levels of L-TP. The findings suggest that L-TP has a dysmnesic effect on memory in depressive patients treated with ECT, but they need to be confirmed before a negative influence of L-TP on memory can be considered definite. |
