Background: Reduced dopaminergic function may occur in depressive disorders. In this paper the results of two pilot studies examining different aspects of the dopamine system in depression are presented. First, the binding of [(11)C]FLB 457 to extrastriatal D(2) receptors was measured in a group of depressed patients. Second, the hypothesis that selective serotonin reuptake inhibiting (SSRI) antidepressants affect the striatal binding of [(11)C]raclopride was tested.
Methods: In the first study the binding of [(11)C]FLB 457 was compared between 7 people with depression and 7 healthy controls. In the second study the binding of [(11)C]raclopride to striatal D(2/3) receptors was compared between 8 people taking SSRI antidepressant medication and 8 healthy controls.
Results: There was no difference in the binding of [(11)C]FLB 457 between the two groups. [(11)C]raclopride binding was reduced in the dorsal striatum of people taking antidepressants suggesting either that D(2/3) expression was reduced, or that dopamine release was increased, compared to untreated controls.
Limitations: The depressed patients were not severely depressed and were not matched for gender with controls. In the raclopride group the patients and controls were not matched by gender and were taking different SSRI antidepressants.
Conclusion: We found no support for the hypothesis that dopamine D(2) receptor expression is altered in extrastriatal brain regions in depression. SSRI antidepressants were associated with reduced [(11)C]raclopride binding in the dorsal striatum supporting the hypothesis that therapeutic effects of such drugs may, in part, be due to changes in the dopamine system.