Description of Invention:
A noninvasive diagnostic assay improves on previous methods for determining
central serotonin functioning, an indicator of susceptibility to aggression, alcohol
abuse, obsessive-compulsive disorder and eating disorders. Levels of salivary
prolactin can be assayed to determine susceptibility to the set of psychiatric
disorders related to central serotonin functioning. Levels of salivary prolactin were
found to be positively correlated with levels of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 5-
hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA), the current measurement of central serotonin
functioning. Elevated CSF levels of 5-HIAA are associated with obsessive-
compulsive disorders, and reduced levels are associated with violent behavior,
alcohol abuse and bulimia. There are an estimated 9 million alcoholics in the United
States and currently 0.5% of women 10 to 30 years old have anorexia nervosa while
5% of college-age women have bulimia. The user-friendliness and reduced costs of
the saliva assay suggest possible candidacy for mass screenings to determine
susceptibility to various psychiatric disorders.
Inventors:
JD Higley (NIAAA) S Lindell (NICHD)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-158-1997/0 Licensing Status: This technology is no longer available for licensing.
Portfolios: Central Nervous System
Central Nervous System -Diagnostics-In Vitro Central Nervous System -Diagnostics
For Additional Information Please Contact: Norbert J. Pontzer PhD JD
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-5502
Email: pontzern@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
