The Effects Of Low Serotonin

The neurotransmitter serotonin is synthesized in the brain from tryptophan---an amino acid---and a component of protein. High levels of tryptophan in the blood signal the brain to make serotonin, but some individuals have low serotonin levels for any number of reasons. Low levels of this particular neurotransmitter have many possible effects, most of which present as affect- or mood-related disorders.

Depression

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that the neurons, or brain cells, release to communicate with one another than an individual feels happy and relaxed. Normal levels of serotonin lead to the sense of well being, while low levels of serotonin are associated with depression and anxiety. Bryn Mawr University notes that while not all cases of depression stem from serotonin deficiencies, there are certainly low levels of the neurotransmitter in many depressed individuals. Using pharmaceuticals to increase serotonin levels helps elevate mood and alleviate depression. Anxiety, like depression, may come from low serotonin levels. Researchers have successfully treated patients with chronic anxiety or social anxiety disorders using the same serotonin-increasing drugs used to treat those with depression.

Insomnia

Serotonin also appears to play a role in appropriate sleep behavior. While researchers once thought that sleep was regulated by other neurotransmitters and hormones--melatonin among them--recent research published in a 2010 issue of the scientific journal "Sleep" suggests that the neurotransmitter may play a more significant role in insomnia than previously thought.

Researchers studied both normal patients and those with primary insomnia--meaning insomnia not caused by any other known disease process. They found that the insomniacs typically had abnormalities in serotonin transporter molecules, that help move serotonin around in the brain. On the basis of their findings, researchers surmised that transporter abnormalities might be responsible for many instances of primary insomnia. Further conjectures suggested by these research findings include that low serotonin levels, like transporter abnormalities, would lead to insomnia in patients.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

On the surface, the psychiatric condition called obsessive-compulsive disorder appears to bear little resemblance to depression. The disorder, sometimes referred to as OCD, is a condition in which patients present with one or more obsessive concerns, and in their attempt to alleviate these concerns, engage in one or more compulsive behaviors. An OCD patient might count noises, for instance, or repeat words a certain number of times.

Like depression, OCD patients typically have low serotonin levels, leaving them feeling uncomfortable and anxious. As opposed to patients with depression, OCD patient discomfort manifests as repetitive behavior. The American Academy of Family Physicians points out that many cases of OCD can be successfully treated with serotonin-increasing pharmaceutical drugs.