Platelet serotonergic markers and tridimensional personality questionnaire measures in a clinical sample

doi:10.1016/0006-3223(95)00381-9

Biological Psychiatry

Volume 40, Issue 4, 15 August 1996, Pages 271-278

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3223(95)00381-9 Get rights and content

A group of patients with major depressive disorder, with and without comorbid obsessive—compulsive disorder, completed the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ). Harm Avoidance scores were found to be high compared to published age-matched norms and to display a significant positive correlation with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores. Platelet ¹²⁵I-lysergic acid diethylamide (¹²⁵I-LSD) and ³H-paroxetine binding B_max values were measured to test Cloninger's hypothesis that Harm Avoidance scores would correlate significantly with measures of serotonergic function. A significant inverse correlation was found between Harm Avoidance scores and ¹²⁵I-LSD B_max values. Correlations between ³H-paroxetine B_max values and TPQ scale scores were not significant. These results suggest an alternative view of the literature relating platelet 5-hydroxytryptamine-2a receptors and mood disorders in that the temperament dimension, Harm Avoidance, may explain prior inconsistencies involving links with depression and suicidality.

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Using positron emission tomography (PET) and [¹¹C]raclopride, an association between striatal D₂ dopamine receptors and emotional detachment has been recently reported. Several laboratory findings indicate a link between the serotoninergic system and harm avoidance. In this study we investigated, in a group of healthy volunteers, the relationship between the in vivo binding of 3-(2′-[¹⁸F]fluoroethyl)spiperone ([¹⁸F]FESP) to cortical 5HT₂ and striatal D₂ receptors and three personality dimensions, i.e., “novelty seeking,” “reward dependence,” and “harm avoidance.” Eleven healthy volunteers were evaluated by means of the Tridimensional personality Questionnaire (C. R. 11, Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 44: 573–588.) and underwent a PET scan with [¹⁸F]FESP. Harm avoidance showed a significant inverse correlation with [¹⁸F]FESP binding in the cerebral cortex, particularly in the frontal cortex (R² = −0.709, P = 0.0145) and left parietal cortex (R = −0.629, P = 0.038) but not in the basal ganglia (r = −0.176, P = 0.651). Similar results were obtained using SPM at a P threshold of 0.05. No significant correlation was observed with novelty seeking or reward dependence. In the cerebral cortex, high values of [¹⁸F]FESP binding values are associated with a high tendency to avoid danger, indicating involvement of the serotoninergic system and, in particular, 5HT_2A receptors, in this trait of personality. The results of this as well as of previous studies on personality dimensions indicate the existence of a relationship between behavioral and neurobiological factors. In addition these results support the concept that the variability of PET data may be explained by neurochemical differences related to the prevalence of specific personality traits.
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Original articlePlatelet serotonergic markers and tridimensional personality questionnaire measures in a clinical sample

Biol Psychiatry

Biol Psychiatry

Life Sci

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J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

J Psychiatr Res

Curr Opin Neurobiol

J Affective Disord

Psychiatry Res

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Biol Psychiatry

Brain Res

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Per Indiv Diff

Lancet

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J Affective Disord

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Human brain cortex and platelet serotonin2 receptor binding properties and their regulation by endogenous serotonin

Life Sci

Serotonergic measures in the brains of suicide victims: 5-HT2 binding sites in the frontal cortex of suicide victims and control subjects

Am J Psychiatry

Original article
Platelet serotonergic markers and tridimensional personality questionnaire measures in a clinical sample

Human brain cortex and platelet serotonin₂ receptor binding properties and their regulation by endogenous serotonin

Serotonergic measures in the brains of suicide victims: 5-HT₂ binding sites in the frontal cortex of suicide victims and control subjects