26.1.2016
Volavka J, Crowner
M, Brizer
D, Convit
A, Van
Praag H, Suckow
RF.
Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New
York 10962.
This double-blind, placebo-controlled study tested the
effectiveness of tryptophan (TRP) in the treatment of aggressive
psychiatric inpatients. After a baseline observation period of 1
month, patients were randomly assigned to treatment either with TRP
(up to 6 g/day) or with placebo. There were 10 subjects in each
treatment group. These treatments were administered for 25-35 days,
after which the patients were observed for 1 month. Throughout this
study, patients were receiving other medications. Injections of
antipsychotics and sedatives were administered as needed to control
agitated or violent behavior. Blood levels of TRP and other large
neutral amino acids were obtained repeatedly, and ratios between
TRP and other amino acids were computed. These analyses confirmed
significant increases of TRP ratios in TRP-treated patients. TRP
treatment had no effect on the number of violent incidents, but it
significantly reduced the need for injections of antipsychotics and
sedatives. The study thus provided indirect support for beneficial
effects of TRP in aggressive psychiatric inpatients.
PMID: 1978689 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]