Serotonergic perturbations in dystonia disorders-a systematic review

M Smit; A L Bartels; M van Faassen; A Kuiper; K E Niezen-Koning; I P Kema; R A Dierckx; T J de Koning; M A Tijssen

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.03.015

Serotonergic perturbations in dystonia disorders-a systematic review

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2016 Jun:65:264-75. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.03.015. Epub 2016 Apr 9.

Authors

M Smit¹, A L Bartels², M van Faassen³, A Kuiper⁴, K E Niezen-Koning⁵, I P Kema⁶, R A Dierckx⁷, T J de Koning⁸, M A Tijssen⁹

Affiliations

¹ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Neurology, PO Box 30.001, 9700, RB Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.smit03@umcg.nl.
² University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Neurology, PO Box 30.001, 9700, RB Groningen, The Netherlands; Ommelander Hospital Group, Department of Neurology, PO Box 30.000, 9930 RA Delfzijl, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.l.bartels@umcg.nl.
³ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Laboratory Medicine, PO Box 30.001, 9700, RB Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: h.j.r.van.faassen@umcg.nl.
⁴ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Neurology, PO Box 30.001, 9700, RB Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.kuiper@umcg.nl.
⁵ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Laboratory Medicine, PO Box 30.001, 9700, RB Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: k.e.niezen.koning01@umcg.nl.
⁶ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Laboratory Medicine, PO Box 30.001, 9700, RB Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: i.p.kema@umcg.nl.
⁷ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: r.a.dierckx@umcg.nl.
⁸ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Genetics, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: t.j.de.koning@umcg.nl.
⁹ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Neurology, PO Box 30.001, 9700, RB Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.a.j.de.koning-tijssen@umcg.nl.

PMID: 27073048
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.03.015

Abstract

Dystonia is a hyperkinetic movement disorder characterized by sustained or intermittent muscle contractions. Emerging data describe high prevalences of non-motor symptoms, including psychiatric co-morbidity, as part of the phenotype of dystonia. Basal ganglia serotonin and serotonin-dopamine interactions gain attention, as imbalances are known to be involved in extrapyramidal movement and psychiatric disorders. We systematically reviewed the literature for human and animal studies relating to serotonin and its role in dystonia. An association between dystonia and the serotonergic system was reported with decreased levels of 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid, the main metabolite of serotonin. A relation between dystonia and drugs affecting the serotonergic system was described in 89 cases in 49 papers. Psychiatric co-morbidity was frequently described, but likely underestimated as it was not systematically examined. Currently, there are no good (pharmaco)therapeutic options for most forms of dystonia or associated non-motor symptoms. Further research using selective serotonergic drugs in appropriate models of dystonia is required to establish the role of the serotonergic system in dystonia and to guide us to new therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: 5-HIAA; Dystonia; Neurotransmitters; Non-motor; Psychiatric disorder; Serotonin.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Basal Ganglia
Dystonic Disorders*
Humans
Mental Disorders
Serotonin Agents

Substances

Serotonin Agents