Brain serotonin synthesis capacity in obsessive-compulsive disorder: effects of cognitive behavioral therapy and sertraline

• DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0128-4
• Publication Date: 2018-04-17T15:14:18Z
• Authors: Jennifer I. Lisse...; Debbie Sookman; Paul Gravel; Alexandre Berney; Amir Barsoum; Mirko Diksic; Thomas E. Nordahl; Gilbert Pinard; Igor Sibon; Jean Cottraux; Marco Leyton; Chawki Benkelfat
• Keywords: Sertraline; Neurochemical; Serotonin reuptake inhibitor

Abstract Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are both effective treatments for some patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), yet little is known about the neurochemical changes related to these treatment modalities. Here, we used positron emission tomography α-[ 11 C]methyl- l -tryptophan tracer examine in brain regional synthesis capacity OCD following CBT or SSRI treatment. Sixteen medication-free were randomly assigned 12 weeks of either sertraline Pre-to-post trapping constant, K * (ml/g/min), assessed as a function symptom response, correlations improvement examined. Responders/partial responders did not show significant relative uptake; rather, responders/partial responders, led increases that brain-wide. Irrespective modality, baseline raphe nuclei correlated positively clinical improvement. These observations suggest that, patients, successful remediation symptoms might be associated greater serotonergic tone.