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Acute tryptophan depletion as a model of depressive relapse

Behavioural specificity and ethical considerations

Department of Psychology, Leiden University, The Netherlands

A. J. WILLEM van der DOES, PhD

Department of Psychology and Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University, The Netherlands

P. M. JUDITH HAFFMANS, PhD

Parnassia Psychomedical Center, The Hague, The Netherlands

PHILIP SPINHOVEN, PhD

Department of Psychology and Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University, The Netherlands

RICHARD J. McNALLY, PhD

Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Correspondence: Professor A. J.Willem Van der Does, Department of Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, The Netherlands. Tel +3171527 3377; fax: +3171527 3619; e-mail: vanderdoes{at}fsw.leidenuniv.nl

Declaration of interest None. Funding detailed in Acknowledgements.

Background Acute tryptophan depletion transiently induces symptoms in those with remitted depression. The behavioural specificity is uncertain, however. Recently, symptom provocation studies have become controversial, particularly in the USA.

Aims To assess the specificity of acute tryptophan depletion. To investigate systematically the subjective experiences of those taking part in a symptom provocation study.

Method Twenty individuals with remitted depression underwent acute tryptophan depletion in a double-blind, crossover trial. Psychiatric symptoms and self-schemata relevant to depression were assessed. The quality of the informed consent procedure and subjective experiences were also evaluated.

Results Acute tryptophan depletion induced a specific depressive response. The effects were more pronounced in females than in males. Participants were quite satisfied with the informed consent procedure. They had understood that this was a fundamental research project and personal benefits were not expected. However, some participants still found it a positive experience.

Conclusions Acute tryptophan depletion is a suitable model of vulnerability to depression, from both a scientific and an ethical perspective.

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