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Neuroendocrinological Studies in Mental Disorders and Psychotropic Drugs:
Author(s) -
YAMASHITA Itaru,
MOROJI Takashi,
YAMAZAKI Kosuke,
KATO Hiroaki,
SAKASHITA Ayumu,
ONODERA Isao,
ITO Kozo,
OKADA Fumihiko,
SAITO Yoshiro,
TAMAKOSHI Makoto,
SUWA Nozomi
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1819.1969.tb02873.x
Subject(s) - circadian rhythm , medicine , evening , endocrinology , psychology , methamphetamine , morning , chlorpromazine , physics , astronomy
SUMMARY The circadian variation of the adrenocortical hormone levels in plasma was studied in 105 patients with various mental disorders. Examinations were repeated on the same subjects to follow up changes in the course of the diseases. Effects of prolonged administration of Methamphetamine and Chlorpromazine on the circadian rhythm of plasma corticosteroids were also investigated in albino rats. Schizophrenics who had completely recovered from their illness showed a normal and stable circadian cycle of plasma 17‐ hydroxycorticosteroid (17‐OHCS), with the highest value early in the morning and the lowest in the late evening. Schizophrenics in an acute stage of disease and also those in an extreme state of personality deterioration exhibited marked disturbances of the diurnal rhythm of the plasma 17‐OHCS levels. In depression, the rhythm was always normal in a group of patients, while in another group with extremely severe symptoms or strong tendency to relapse it was often found to be disturbed at the height of the disease. Twelve of 13 subjects with general paresis showed alterations in the circadian pattern of plasma 17‐OHCS and also the enlarged lateral and third ventricles on pneumoencephalogram (PEG). One exceptional case with a normal circadian variation had a normal PEG picture. Among hospitalized epileptics, those subjects with only slight dementia and personality change demonstrated no abnormalities of the diurnal rhythm, whereas in those patients who showed such psychic symptoms as hallucinations, delusions or conspicuous personality disorganization had significant loss of the circadian pattern of plasma cortisol. Alteration in the circadian pattern of plasma corticosteroids were also observed in rats treated with daily injections of Methamphetamine or Chlorpromazine for certain periods of time. In consideration of these data and other reports on the role of the central nervous system in maintaining the circadian pattern of the adrenocortical hormone in blood, the authors postulated a kind of pathological process in the central nervous system in schizophrenic illness, though not determined whether it is diffuse or focal.