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Reduced midbrain‐pons serotonin transporter binding in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder
Author(s) -
Hasselbalch S. G.,
Hansen E. S.,
Jakobsen T. B.,
Pinborg L. H.,
Lønborg J. H.,
Bolwig T. G.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2006.00940.x
Subject(s) - serotonergic , serotonin transporter , serotonin , midbrain , psychology , pons , neuroscience , medicine , endocrinology , central nervous system , receptor
Objective: To evaluate current hypothesis regarding the pathophysiology of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) by studying the serotonin receptor binding in patients with OCD using single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT). Method: We studied nine patients (four men and five women, age range 21–56 years) fulfilling the DMS‐III‐R criteria for OCD using SPECT and the serotonin transporter (SERT) tracer 123 I‐ β ‐CIT. SERT binding potential (BP2) was determined by Logan plot derived from seven scans obtained during 10–400 min. Results: The binding of 123 I‐ β ‐CIT in midbrain‐pons was reduced in OCD patients when compared with controls (BP2 0.97 ± 0.07 vs. 0.84 ± 0.12, P = 0.011). There was no correlation between BP2 and any of the clinical variables (age at onset, disease duration, and Yale‐Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale score). Conclusion: This study suggests a reduced serotonergic input into the fronto‐subcortical circuits in OCD, thereby diminishing the inhibitory regulation of serotonin on these circuits.