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γ‐Aminobutyric Acid Concentration in Cerebrospinal Fluid in Schizophrenia
Author(s) -
McCarthy B. W,
Gomes U. R,
Neethling A. C,
Shanley B. C,
Taljaard J. J. F,
Potgieter L,
Roux J. T
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1981.tb00579.x
Subject(s) - cerebrospinal fluid , gabaergic , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , medicine , gamma aminobutyric acid , endocrinology , psychiatry , psychology , chemistry , gastroenterology , receptor
γ‐Aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration was determined in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of acute and chronic schizophrenic patients, in persons with psycho‐organic or personality disorders, and in nonpsychiatric controls. The mean CSF GABA level in the chronic schizophrenic patients was found to be significantly higher than in any of the other groups. No other statistically significant differences were found. Statistical analysis revealed that the elevated CSF GABA concentration in the chronic schizophrenic patients was unlikely to be caused by medication. These results are interpreted as evidence for possible primary or secondary GABAergic overactivity in the brain in chronic schizophrenia.