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The British Journal of Psychiatry (2002) 181: 242-247
© 2002 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Neuroticism as a predictor of mood change: the effects of tryptophan depletion

MARY E. STEWART, PhD

Department of Psychiatry, University of Newcastle

I. J. DEARY, MB, ChB, PhD

Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh

K. P. EBMEIER, MD

Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, UK

Correspondence: Professor K. P. Ebmeier, Department of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, UK. Tel/fax: 0131 537 6505; e-mail: k.ebmeier{at}ed.ac.uk

Declaration of interest This study was supported by a Medical Research Council (MRC) PhD Fellowship to M.E.S. and core funding of the MRC Brain Metabolism Unit.

Background Acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) results in a transient lowering of mood in patients recovered from depression and in healthy volunteers with a family history of affective disorders. The personality trait of neuroticism is strongly associated with depression.

Aims To assess whether neuroticism predicts mood change in response to ATD in healthy volunteers.

Method Healthy volunteers who scored at the top and bottom fifth percentiles of neuroticism scores (17 and 15 respectively) were selected. In a double-blind, crossover study they received a tryptophan-free or a control drink. Mood and cognition were assessed.

Results Neuroticism did not predict the amount of mood change following ATD but did moderate performance on the verbal fluency test. A family history of affective disorder (n=5) predicted mood change but not cognitive function following ATD.

Conclusions Neuroticism moderates aspects of cognitive function, but in this study it was not strongly related with mood change via serotonin.




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