PLASMA GABA IN AFFECTIVE DISORDER

本提案的主要目的是研究 正常对照受试者和患者中的γ-氨基丁酸（GABA） 患有原发性情感障碍 几项初步研究，部分得到了NIMH心理健康中心的支持。 小格兰特，表明血浆GABA水平低的患者， 与对照组相比，单相抑郁症。 双相 情感障碍患者的血浆GABA水平在对照范围内 当抑郁时，但血浆GABA水平高于对照组， 当病人躁狂时， 复苏 这项工作需要继续和扩大。 首先，一个更大的群体， 将研究正常对照以确定血浆GABA的稳定性 随着时间 二是一系列原发性无药患者 单极抑郁症，双极抑郁症，躁狂症将有他们的血浆 GABA水平测定，而他们生病和症状。 血浆GABA 将再次获得的病人后，他们已经恢复了从 发作和无症状，可以安全地停止药物治疗。 这项研究应该有助于我们理解GABA在 情感障碍的病理生理学

The primary aim of this proposal is to study plasma levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in normal control subjects and in patients with primary affective disorder. Several preliminary studies, supported in part by an NIMH Mental Health Small grant, suggest that plasma GABA levels are low in patients with unipolar depression when compared to control. Patients with bipolar affective disorder had levels of plasma GABA that were in the control range when depressed, but plasma GABA levels that were elevated above control when the patients were manic and after they had experienced a clinical recovery. This work needs to be continued and extended. First, a larger group of normal controls will be studied to determine the stability of plasma GABA over time. Second, a series of medication-free patients with primary unipolar depression, bipolar depression, and mania will have their plasma GABA levels determined while they are ill and symptomatic. Plasma GABA will again be obtained in the patients after they have recovered from the episode and are asymptomatic and can safely be withdrawn from medication. This research should contribute to our understanding of the role GABA plays in the pathophysiology of affective disorder.