Heat-loss response to a thermal challenge in seasonal affective disorder

Arbisi, Paul A.; Depue, Richard A.; Krauss, Steven S.; Spoont, Michele; Leon, Arthur S.; Ainsworth, Barbara E.; Muir, Rachel Q

doi:10.1016/0165-1781(94)90088-4

Cited by 13 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…This notion is a straightforward prediction of the theoretical framework espoused in this article, but to our knowledge has never been previously advanced. Finally, several small studies suggest that individuals with SAD have impaired ability to activate thermoregulatory cooling mechanisms (Arbisi et al, 1989 , 1994 ), which, again, is remarkably consistent with the idea that skin-to-brain-to-skin thermosensory/regulatory circuitry is abnormal in depression, and likely across a range of depressive symptom subtypes.…”

Section: Evidence Linking Thermosensation With Affective States Relevsupporting

confidence: 60%

Somatic influences on subjective well-being and affective disorders: the convergence of thermosensory and central serotonergic systems

et al. 2015

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Current theories suggest that the brain is the sole source of mental illness. However, affective disorders, and major depressive disorder (MDD) in particular, may be better conceptualized as brain-body disorders that involve peripheral systems as well. This perspective emphasizes the embodied, multifaceted physiology of well-being, and suggests that afferent signals from the body may contribute to cognitive and emotional states. In this review, we focus on evidence from preclinical and clinical studies suggesting that afferent thermosensory signals contribute to well-being and depression. Although thermoregulatory systems have traditionally been conceptualized as serving primarily homeostatic functions, increasing evidence suggests neural pathways responsible for regulating body temperature may be linked more closely with emotional states than previously recognized, an affective warmth hypothesis. Human studies indicate that increasing physical warmth activates brain circuits associated with cognitive and affective functions, promotes interpersonal warmth and prosocial behavior, and has antidepressant effects. Consistent with these effects, preclinical studies in rodents demonstrate that physical warmth activates brain serotonergic neurons implicated in antidepressant-like effects. Together, these studies suggest that (1) thermosensory pathways interact with brain systems that control affective function, (2) these pathways are dysregulated in affective disorders, and (3) activating warm thermosensory pathways promotes a sense of well-being and has therapeutic potential in the treatment of affective disorders.

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Section: Evidence Linking Thermosensation With Affective States Relevsupporting

confidence: 60%

Somatic influences on subjective well-being and affective disorders: the convergence of thermosensory and central serotonergic systems

et al. 2015

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“…Reduced dopaminergic function in SAD is supported by findings of abnormalities of basal serum pro-lactin levels in winter and summer (Depue et al 1989(Depue et al , 1990 and reduced heat-loss response to thermal challenge in winter (Arbisi et al 1989(Arbisi et al , 1994. Reduced eye blink rates indicative of lower dopaminergic tone were found in some studies (Depue et al 1988) but not in others (Barbato et al 1993).…”

mentioning

confidence: 92%

Effects of Alpha-Methyl-Para-Tyrosine-Induced Catecholamine Depletion in Patients with Seasonal Affective Disorder in Summer Remission

Lam

Tam

Grewal

et al. 2001

Neuropsychopharmacology

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Noradrenergic and dopaminergic mechanisms have been proposed for the pathophysiology of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). We investigated the effects of catecholamine depletion using alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (AMPT), an inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase, in patients with SAD in natural summer remission. Nine drug-free patients with SAD by DSM-IV criteria, in summer remission for at least eight weeks, completed a double-blind, crossover study. Behavioral ratings and serum HVA and MHPG levels were obtained for 3-day sessions during which patients took AMPT or an active control drug, diphenhydramine. The active AMPT session significantly reduced serum levels of HVA and MHPG compared with the control diphenhydramine session. The AMPT session resulted in higher depression ratings with all nine patients having significant clinical relapse, compared with two patients during the diphenhydramine session. All patients returned to baseline scores after drug discontinuation. Catecholamine depletion results in significant clinical relapse in patients with SAD in the untreated, summer-remitted state. AMPT-induced depressive relapse may be a trait marker for SAD, and/or brain catecholamines may play a direct role in the pathogenesis of SAD.

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“…Based on strong evidence for serotonin dysfunction in SAD (Lam et al, 1996;Schwartz et al, 1997;Levitan et al, 1998), the vast majority of these studies have focused on serotonin system genes, with inconclusive results. Despite significant evidence that altered dopamine activity also plays an important role in SAD (Depue et al, 1990;Arbisi et al, 1994;Neumeister et al, 2001;Lam et al, 2001), no candidate gene studies based on the dopamine system have been reported in SAD probands to date. The goal of the current study was to explore three separate genetic hypotheses for SAD related to the dopamine-4 receptor gene (DRD4).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Childhood Inattention and Dysphoria and Adult Obesity Associated with the Dopamine D4 receptor Gene in Overeating Women with Seasonal Affective Disorder

Levitan

Masellis

Lam

et al. 2003

Neuropsychopharmacol

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There is significant evidence that altered dopamine activity plays a role in seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The current study examined three separate genetic hypotheses for SAD related to the 7-repeat allele (7R) of the dopamine-4 receptor gene (DRD4), a variant associated with decreased affinity for dopamine. We examined the possible contribution of 7R to the overall expression of SAD, attention deficit disorder (ADD) comorbidity, and body weight regulation. As part of an ongoing genetic study of increased eating behavior and mood in female subjects, 108 women with winter SAD and carbohydrate craving/weight gain were administered the Wender-Utah Rating Scale to measure childhood ADD symptomatology, and a questionnaire to assess maximal lifetime body mass index (BMI). To test for an association between 7R and the categorical diagnosis of SAD, the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) was used in a subsample of probands providing familial DNA. Standard parametric tests were used to compare childhood ADD symptoms and maximal lifetime BMI across the two genotypic groups defined by the presence or absence of 7R. The TDT found no initial evidence for an association between 7R and the categorical diagnosis of SAD. However, 7R carriers reported significantly greater inattention and dysphoria in childhood (p ¼ 0.01 and 0.001, respectively) and a higher maximal lifetime BMI (p ¼ 0.007) than did probands without this allele. Furthermore, excluding probands with extreme obesity (maximal BMI 440), a strong correlation was found linking childhood inattentive symptoms and maximal lifetime BMI (r ¼ 0.35, p ¼ 0.001). In overeating women with SAD, the 7R allele of DRD4 may be associated with a unique developmental trajectory characterized by attentional deficits and dysphoria in childhood and mild to moderate obesity in adulthood. This developmental course may reflect different manifestations of the same underlying vulnerability related to central dopamine dysfunction. Given the possibility of population stratification when studying genotype/phenotype relationships, future use of genomic controls and replication of our findings in other overeating and/or ADD populations are needed to confirm these initial results.

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Heat-loss response to a thermal challenge in seasonal affective disorder

Cited by 13 publications

References 59 publications

Somatic influences on subjective well-being and affective disorders: the convergence of thermosensory and central serotonergic systems

Somatic influences on subjective well-being and affective disorders: the convergence of thermosensory and central serotonergic systems

Effects of Alpha-Methyl-Para-Tyrosine-Induced Catecholamine Depletion in Patients with Seasonal Affective Disorder in Summer Remission

Childhood Inattention and Dysphoria and Adult Obesity Associated with the Dopamine D4 receptor Gene in Overeating Women with Seasonal Affective Disorder

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