Lisa A Pan, Petra Martin, Thomas Zimmer, Anna Maria Segreti, Sivan Kassiff, Brian W McKain, Cynthia A Baca, Manivel Rengasamy, Keith Hyland, Nicolette Walano, Robert Steinfeld, Marion Hughes, Steven K Dobrowolski, Michele Pasquino, Rasim Diler, James Perel, David N Finegold, David G Peters, Robert K Naviaux, David A Brent, Jerry Vockley
OBJECTIVE: Treatment-refractory depression is a devastating condition with significant morbidity, mortality, and societal cost. At least 15% of cases of major depressive disorder remain refractory to treatment. The authors previously identified a young adult with treatment-refractory depression and multiple suicide attempts with an associated severe deficiency of CSF tetrahydrobiopterin, a critical cofactor for monoamine neurotransmitter synthesis. Treatment with sapropterin, a tetrahydrobiopterin analogue, led to dramatic and long-lasting remission of depression...
January 1, 2017: American Journal of Psychiatry