L-Tryptophan and D, L-5-Hydroxytryptophan Effects on Sleep of Chronic Schizophrenic Patients

Abstract

Murri L-Tryptophan and d, L-5-Hydroxytryptophan Effects 485Hartmann, E.: The D-state and norepinephrine-dependent systems. Int. Psychiat. Clin.( Sleep and dreaming), vol. 7, pp. 308-328 (Little Brown, Boston 1970 Results obtained with tryptophan are contradictory [Oswald et al. 1966;Hartmann, 1967; Williams et al., 1969;Wyatt et al., 1970], but an increase in stage rapid eye movements (REM) has often been reported, especially with higher dosages [Williams, 1971]; there is, however, substantial agreement for an increase in REM sleep with 5-HTP [Mandell et al, 1964;Oswald et al., 1966;Wyatt et al., 1971], These data seem, in part, to conflict with those obtained with laboratory animals in which there has been observed an effect of 5-HTP upon NREM (non REM) sleep [Jouvet, 1969].It was considered to be of interest to investigate a possible modification by the two precursors upon the sleep pattern of schizophrenic subjects in view of the hypothesis of an altered metabolism of serotonin in schizophrenic syndromes.