Neuroendocrine responses to single doses of buspirone in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Prolactin and cortisol responses to buspirone, a partial serotonin agonist with effects on the 5-HT1A receptor, were measured in 16 patients with DSM-III-R obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and 16 normal controls. No consistent differences were observed between patients and controls with respect to the hormone responses measured. The results suggest that dysfunction of the 5-HT1A receptor is not present in OCD patients. The limitations of buspirone as a specific agonist challenge of the 5-HT1A receptor are discussed. Although data from other studies generally support a serotonin dysfunction in OCD, the question of which specific subtype(s) of receptor remains unanswered.