CSF 5-HIAA as a predictor of treatment response in trichotillomania. |
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Authors: | P T Ninan B O Rothbaum M Stipetic R J Lewine S C Risch |
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Institution: | Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA. |
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Abstract: | Trichotillomania is characterized by chronic hair-pulling resulting in noticeable hair loss. In a preliminary study, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) measures in 8 medication-free, female, trichotillomania patients were compared to those of matched, normal controls. There was no difference between patients and controls in measures of CSF cortisol, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG). CSF measures did not correlate with measures of trichotillomania symptomatology. However, degree of response to treatment with serotonin re-uptake inhibitors significantly correlated with baseline CSF 5-HIAA. This suggests that central serotonin turnover is specifically relevant to treatment response to serotonin re-uptake inhibitors in trichotillomania. |
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