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Behavioural effects of acute tryptophan depletion in healthy male volunteers

Grupo de Psicofarmacologia, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul e Serviço de Psiquiatria, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Centro de Memória, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil

João V. Busnello

Grupo de Psicofarmacologia, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul e Serviço de Psiquiatria, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil

João Quevedo

Grupo de Psicofarmacologia, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul e Serviço de Psiquiatria, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Centro de Memória, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Letícia Forster

Grupo de Psicofarmacologia, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul e Serviço de Psiquiatria, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Simon Young

Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

Ivan Izquierdo

Centro de Memória, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil and 3Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

Flávio Kapczinski

Grupo de Psicofarmacologia, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul e Serviço de Psiquiatria, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre; Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, 90035–03 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; kapcz{at}zaz.com.br

Acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) studies have been used to assess the role of the serotonergic system in various aspects of human behaviour. Changes in mood have already been described in selected groups of individuals submitted to ATD. The present study was a randomized, double-blind, cross-over trial designed to evaluate the effects of ATD on mood, memory, attention and induced anxiety in normal male volunteers. Twelve healthy male volunteers were submitted to two separate sessions of ATD, 1 week apart. Drinks containing either a balanced mixture of amino acids (B) or a similar mixture devoid of tryptophan (T–) were administered in each session. Mood was assessed using self-rating scales. Attention and memory were assessed using a battery of psychological tests. Anxiety induction was carried out using a simulation of public speaking. Blood levels of tryptophan were assessed before and after the B and T– drinks. Results showed that ATD markedly decreased plasma tryptophan (p< 0.0001). Mood ratings, memory and attention were not changed by the T– drink. There was no difference among the anxiety levels measured under T– or B mixtures. These data supports the notion that ATD does not change mood and cognitive function in healthy subjects.

Key Words: acute tryptophan depletion • anxiety • attention • memory • mood • serotonin • simulated public speaking

Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 14, No. 2, 157-163 (2000)
DOI: 10.1177/026988110001400205


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