Bupropion in depression. II. The role of metabolites in clinical outcome.

We studied the steady-state pharmacokinetics of bupropion hydrochloride, a unicyclic aminoketone antidepressant, in depressed patients. The metabolites hydroxybupropion (HB), threohydrobupropion, and erythrohydrobupropion predominated over the parent compound in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid at steady state. Plasma concentrations of each metabolite correlated with cerebrospinal fluid concentrations.

Bupropion in depression. I. Biochemical effects and clinical response.

We studied the biochemical effects of bupropion hydrochloride, a unicyclic antidepressant, in 11 depressed patients. Plasma homovanillic acid level increased significantly in patients who had poor responses to treatment but not in patients who obtained good clinical responses. Although bupropion is characterized preclinically as a weak dopamine reuptake inhibitor without appreciable effects on norepinephrine (NE) reuptake, it reduced whole-body NE turnover without altering plasma NE levels at rest and following orthostatic challenge.

Lack of cardiovascular tolerance during intravenous cocaine infusions in human volunteers.

Acute tolerance to the cardiovascular effects of cocaine has been hypothesized from experiments in which the plasma concentrations of cocaine were rapidly changing. We studied the cardiovascular responses of 8 male human subjects for 4 hours following intravenous bolus doses of cocaine, and compared these to responses in the same subjects after intravenous bolus doses of cocaine followed by continuous intravenous infusions of cocaine designed to maintain steady state plasma levels of cocaine. We found little evidence of tolerance to the tachycardia and hypertensive effects of cocaine during a four hour exposure.

Confirmation of cocaine in human saliva after intravenous use.

The presence of cocaine was confirmed in the saliva of two male human subjects who had received intravenous doses of cocaine. For one subject, the saliva:plasma concentration ratios varied from 2.96 to 0.

Pretreatment MMPI profiles of A.A. members and nonmembers.

Historically, researchers in alcoholism have focused a large amount of energy on the search for "the alcoholic personality." From this effort to identify a particular type of personality prone to the development of alcoholism arose the idea that alcoholics are not a homogeneous group. Subsequently, a number of authors reported the existence of alcoholic subtypes.

Effects of S-adenosyl-methionine on plasma norepinephrine, blood pressure, and heart rate in healthy volunteers.

S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe) is currently undergoing trials as a possible antidepressant. Because SAMe's mechanism of action is obscure and norepinephrine (NE) is often implicated in affective disorders, we studied the effects of SAMe on this neurotransmitter in volunteers. Plasma NE and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) in the supine and standing position were studied before and after acute placebo or a single 400 mg dose of SAMe and following seven daily administrations; concomitant measures were heart rate (HR) and blood pressure.

Psychoses associated with bupropion treatment.

The authors describe the development of acute psychoses in four patients treated with bupropion, a unicyclic aminoketone antidepressant. In two of the cases the psychoses seemed to be affected by dose. The mechanism responsible for the psychotic reactions is unclear, although it may involve perturbation of dopaminergic systems.

Exaggerated orthostatic responsivity of plasma norepinephrine in depression.

An orthostatic challenge paradigm was used to assess noradrenergic regulation in depressive disorders. Plasma norepinephrine (NE) concentrations and concurrent blood pressure and pulse were measured at rest and after five minutes of standing in groups of bipolar (N = 22) and unipolar (N = 19) depressives and in 12 partially age-matched healthy female volunteers. Supine plasma NE levels were significantly lower in bipolar patients than in either unipolar depressives or normal volunteers.

Effects of melatonin on performance testing in patients with seasonal affective disorder.

Psychomotor performance and memory were assessed in 6 patients with seasonal affective disorder following one week of daily administration of oral melatonin. No effect was noted on either vigilance or memory testing, but reaction time on a simple visual/tactile task was significantly reduced. Identical testing following a week of placebo administration showed no changes from baseline.

Effects of group intervention on moral development of distressed youths in Israel.

The effects of a positive peer culture (PPC) program [H. H. Vorrath and L.

Stability of psychological test results in newly admitted alcoholics.

Previous research has demonstrated that psychological test results of newly admitted alcoholics are not stable due to lingering alcohol toxicity. The present study (N = 40) demonstrated that a 10-day delay in testing is sufficient to obtain stable results on some psychological tests.

Sex-role orientation and psychological adjustment: comparison of MMPI profiles among college women and housewives.

Androgynous, masculine, feminine, and undifferentiated women, as determined by the Bern Sex Role Inventory, were compared on the three validity and ten clinical scales of the MMPI. Two samples of women were included: Female college students and a group of upper middle-class suburban housewives. No significant differences emerged in the housewife sample.

Effects of therapists nonverbal communication on rated skill and effectiveness.

A therapist's nonverbal behavior may communicate emotion and feelings toward a client. Thus, skilled utilization of appropriate nonverbal cues should facilitate many nonbehavioral therapies. A 2 X 2 X 2 factorial experiment investigated the therapy-facilitating effects of three theoretical dimensions of nonverbal communication: Immediacy, potency or status, and responsivity.

The use of donor mucus and insemination for cervical factor.

In a case of infertility due to cervical factor, application of donor mucus into the cervical canal was effective. The donor mucus with the first fraction of the husband's split ejaculate were incubated at 37 degrees C for 20 minutes. The mucus was then introduced into the cervical canal and a cervical cap for insemination was applied.