Alteration of the platelet serotonin transporter in romantic love.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional comparative case-control study
PubMed 10405096 · doi:10.1017/s0033291798007946
What was done
The study compared platelet serotonin (5-HT) transporter density across three groups of 20 participants (total n = 60): individuals who had fallen in love within the previous 6 months, unmedicated patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and normal control subjects. Transporter density was evaluated by measuring the specific binding of 3H-paroxetine (3H-Par) to platelet membranes.
What was found
The abstract provides no exact numerical values, confidence intervals, or test statistics. It reports that 3H-Par binding site density was significantly lower in both the romantic love group and the unmedicated OCD group relative to normal controls, with no significant difference between the romantic love and OCD groups.
Why it matters
This study provides early biological evidence suggesting that the early, obsessive phase of romantic love shares peripheral serotonergic alterations with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Limits
The sample size is very small (20 participants per group). Platelet binding is a peripheral proxy that may not accurately reflect central nervous system serotonin signaling. The cross-sectional design cannot establish causality or longitudinal changes, and the abstract omits quantitative measurements, p-values, and demographic details.
Cited by
- partial When people fall in love, there is a large dip in serotonin that neurochemically resembles clinical depression.