Effects of Scheduled Waiting for Psychotherapy in Patients With Major Depression.

The role of nonspecific factors in the outcome of psychotherapy is poorly understood. To study the effects of pretreatment expectancy of scheduled psychotherapy, we examined the effects of an agreed waiting time on the outcome of psychodynamic psychotherapy. Thirty-three treatment-naive outpatients with major depressive disorder were randomly selected to start psychotherapy either directly (DG; n = 17) or after waiting for 6 months (WG; n = 16).

Baseline symptom severity predicts serotonin transporter change during psychotherapy in patients with major depression.

Aims: The role of the serotonin transporter (SERT) in the pathophysiology of depression is unclear and only a few follow-up studies exist. Our aim was to measure changes in SERT availability during psychodynamic psychotherapy in patients with major depression over a follow-up time of 12 or 18 months.

Methods: The patients were studied with iodine-123 labelled 2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl) serial single-photon emission tomography imaging and clinical rating scales of symptoms.

The patient-therapist interaction and the recognition of affects during the process of psychodynamic psychotherapy for depression.

The perceptions of patients (n = 25) and their therapists about psychodynamic psychotherapy for depression were assessed during the first treatment year using 23 scales. Patients and therapists independently evaluated the impact of depression on the therapeutic experience of the patients. The estimations of the impact of depression by the patients and therapists were concordant in the majority of the subjects, reflecting mutual tuning and a working alliance.

Serotonin-transporter-linked promoter region polymorphism and serotonin transporter binding in drug-naïve patients with major depression.

Aims: Both the serotonin transporter and its genetic regulation by the serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region have a role in the pathophysiology of depression. Most of the previous studies have found no influence of serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region allelic variation on serotonin transporter binding in healthy controls or patients with major depression. Due to the inconsistency of the previous findings, we compared single photon emission computed tomography imaging with the serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region genotype in patients with major depressive disorder.

Midbrain serotonin and striatum dopamine transporter binding in double depression: a one-year follow-up study.

Data on neurobiological differences between major depression (MD) and double depression (DD) are scarce. We examined the striatum dopamine (DAT) and midbrain serotonin transporter (SERT) binding of [123I] nor-beta-CIT in DD patients (n=8) and compared it to that in MD patients (n=11) and healthy controls (n=19). Drug-naïve patients and controls were imaged by single-photon emission computed tomography at baseline, and the patients also after one year of psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Changes in midbrain serotonin transporter availability in atypically depressed subjects after one year of psychotherapy.

Background: Psychotherapy is an effective treatment method for depression, but no differences in the psychotherapy response have been found between the subtypes of depression. The effect of psychotherapy on neurotransmitter transporter functions has never been recorded in depressed subjects.

Methods: Depressive outpatients (N=19) received psychodynamic psychotherapy for 12 months.

Reduced midbrain serotonin transporter availability in drug-naïve patients with depression measured by SERT-specific [(123)I] nor-beta-CIT SPECT imaging.

Earlier results have indicated that serotonin transporter (SERT) availability is altered in major depression. We examined SERT density with a more serotonin-specific ligand and with a larger number of patients than in previous studies. Twenty-nine antidepressant-naïve patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 19 healthy age- and sex-matched controls were studied with SPECT using [(123)I] nor-beta-CIT as a ligand.

Midbrain binding of [123I]nor-beta-CIT in atypical depression.

Background: Altered serotonin (SERT) and dopamine transporter (DAT) densities have been recorded in major depression. Atypical depression (ATD) has been suggested to be connected to decreased serotonergic transmission, but no studies have been published on the association between brain serotonin transporter density and ATD.

Methods: PATIENTS with depression (n=29) were divided into three groups according to DSM-IV criteria: atypically depressed, melancholic patients, and "undifferentiated" patients.

An outcome of psychodynamic psychotherapy: a case study of the change in serotonin transporter binding and the activation of the dream screen.

We explored the outcome of psychodynamic psychotherapy of a female patient with major depression using clinical evaluation and serotonin transporter (SERT) binding assessed with [123I]nor-beta-CIT SPECT. The psychotherapy process was analyzed with special emphasis on the change that was recognized in the dreaming process. The activation of the dream screen in transference seemed to form a turning point during the psychotherapy.

Elevated midbrain serotonin transporter availability in mixed mania: a case report.

Background: Results obtained from brain imaging studies indicate that serotonin transporter (SERT) and dopamine transporter (DAT) densities are altered in major depression. However, no such studies have been published on current mania or hypomania.

Case Presentation: In this single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) study with [123I]nor-beta-CIT we present a case with simultaneous symptoms of major depression and hypomania.