Related Experiment Videos
Growth hormone response to apomorphine in obsessive-compulsive disorder
W Pitchot1, M Hansenne, A G Moreno
1Psychiatric Unit, Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire du Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium.
Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience : JPN
|November 1, 1996
Summary
Dopamine
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Dopamine's role in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) pathophysiology is suggested by evidence.
- Neuroleptic treatment has shown efficacy in some OCD patients, implying dopaminergic involvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dopamine system's function in OCD.
- To assess the growth hormone (GH) response to apomorphine in drug-free OCD patients compared to healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Apomorphine (a dopamine agonist) was administered subcutaneously (0.5 mg).
- Growth hormone (GH) response was measured in 8 drug-free OCD patients and 8 healthy male volunteers.
- Participants were assessed for DSM-III-R criteria for OCD without major depression.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in mean GH peak response between OCD patients (12.4 ng/mL) and controls (21.1 ng/mL).
- Results do not support a hypothesis of dopaminergic overactivity in OCD.
- Blunted GH response in 2 OCD patients suggests biological heterogeneity within the disorder.
Conclusions:
- The study does not support the dopaminergic overactivity hypothesis in OCD.
- Observed heterogeneity in GH response suggests biological differences among OCD patients.
- Further research with larger samples and comorbidity assessment is needed to confirm findings.