Table 2

Imaging studies of 5-HT2A receptors in major depressive disorder

StudyMethodNo. subjects (with depression, healthy)Medication statusResult
Díh aenen et al98[123I]ketanserin SPECT19,10Medication free (7 d)Greater in parietal cortex
Biver et al99[18F]altanserin PET8,22Medication free (10 d)Lower in orbitofrontal cortex
Attar-Levy et al100[18F]setoperone PET7,7Taking benzodiazepinesLower in prefrontal cortex
Meyer et al101[18F]setoperone PET14,14Medication free (3 mo plus, 5 half-lives)No difference
Meltzer et al102[18F]altanserin PET11,11UntreatedNo difference
Yatham et al103[18F]setoperone PET20,20Medication free (2 wk)Decrease in all cortex
Messa et al104[18F]setoperone PET19,19Taking benzodiazepinesDecrease in all cortex
Meyer et al*89[18F]setoperone PET22,22Medication free (6 mo)Positive association with dysfunctional attitude severity in cortex
Mintun et al†105[18F]altanserin PET46,29Medication free (4 wk)Decrease in hippocampus

  • ↵* Subjects enrolled in the study by Meyer et al 1999 were also included in the expanded study by Meyer et al.

  • ↵† Findings largely appear driven by a single healthy subject with very high 5-HT2 binding potential.