PMID- 21178946
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20110418
LR  - 20151119
IS  - 0172-780X (Print)
IS  - 0172-780X (Linking)
VI  - 31
IP  - 5
DP  - 2010
TI  - An open-label trial of L-5-hydroxytryptophan in subjects with romantic stress.
PG  - 663-6
AB  - This open-label trial assessed the clinical efficacy of L-5-hydroxytryptophan 
      (5-HTP), a natural serotonin precursor, in nondepressed young subjects with high 
      levels of romantic stress. Since both neurotrophins and serotonin have been 
      linked to human romantic attachment, we sought to investigate the changes in 
      serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and platelet serotonin 
      content in relation to the changes in romantic stress throughout the study. A 
      total of 15 healthy subjects (11 females and 4 males, mean age: 23.3 +/- 2.1 years) 
      who experienced a recent romantic break-up or reported recent romantic problems 
      took part in the study. The participants were treated openly for 6 weeks with 
      L-5-hydroxytryptophan (60 mg Griffonia simplicifolia extract containing 12.8 mg 
      5-HTP b.i.d., Amorex, Coropharm, Villach, Austria). The subjects were evaluated 
      at baseline, at 3 weeks and at the end of the 6-week trial using an adapted 
      version of the Seiffge-Krenke's Problem Questionnaire. BDNF and platelet 
      serotonin content were determined at baseline, at 3 weeks, and after the 
      completion of the 6-week trial. We observed significant improvements in romantic 
      stress scores from weeks 0 through 3 (p=0.007) but no further significant 
      improvement was evident from weeks 3 through 6 (p=0.19). At 6 weeks, subjects had 
      a significant increase from baseline in both BDNF and platelet serotonin values. 
      Our data suggest that direct modulation of the serotonergic system may have use 
      for the treatment of psychological suffering associated with unreciprocated 
      romantic love.
FAU - Emanuele, Enzo
AU  - Emanuele E
AD  - Department of Health Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pavia, Pavia, 
      Italy. enzo.em@libero.it
FAU - Bertona, Marco
AU  - Bertona M
FAU - Minoretti, Piercarlo
AU  - Minoretti P
FAU - Geroldi, Diego
AU  - Geroldi D
LA  - eng
PT  - Clinical Trial
PT  - Journal Article
PL  - Sweden
TA  - Neuro Endocrinol Lett
JT  - Neuro endocrinology letters
JID - 8008373
RN  - 0 (Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation)
RN  - 0 (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor)
RN  - 333DO1RDJY (Serotonin)
RN  - C1LJO185Q9 (5-Hydroxytryptophan)
SB  - IM
MH  - 5-Hydroxytryptophan/administration & dosage/*pharmacology
MH  - Adaptation, Psychological/*drug effects
MH  - Adult
MH  - Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation/administration & dosage/*pharmacology
MH  - Austria
MH  - Blood Platelets/chemistry
MH  - Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/*blood
MH  - Courtship/*psychology
MH  - Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
MH  - Female
MH  - Follow-Up Studies
MH  - Humans
MH  - Interpersonal Relations
MH  - Male
MH  - Serotonin/*metabolism
MH  - Stress, Psychological/*drug therapy/psychology
MH  - Surveys and Questionnaires
MH  - Treatment Outcome
MH  - Young Adult
EDAT- 2010/12/24 06:00
MHDA- 2011/04/19 06:00
CRDT- 2010/12/24 06:00
PHST- 2010/06/05 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2010/06/15 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2010/12/24 06:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2010/12/24 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2011/04/19 06:00 [medline]
AID - NEL310510A17 [pii]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2010;31(5):663-6.