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CSF monoamine metabolites in schizophrenic patients
Author(s) -
Gattaz W. F.,
Waldmeier P.,
Beckmann H.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1982.tb06717.x
Subject(s) - homovanillic acid , brief psychiatric rating scale , monoamine neurotransmitter , cerebrospinal fluid , psychology , psychopathology , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychiatry , medicine , clinical psychology , psychosis , serotonin , receptor
The monoamine metabolites 3‐methoxy‐4‐hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5‐HIAA) were measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 16 psychiatrically healthy controls and in 28 schizophrenic patients. There was no difference in CSF MHPG and HVA levels between the group of patients and the controls. CSF levels of 5‐HIAA were significantly lower in schizophrenic patients than in controls. Differential analysis of patients with and without neuroleptics revealed that these findings were not due to drug treatment. Positive correlations were found between the level of 5‐HIAA and the items: hallucinatory behaviour, grandiosity, and tension as rated on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. As 5‐HIAA CSF data are controversial for nosological entities, the search for correlations between 5‐HIAA and individual psychopathological variables could provide more specific indices for psychiatric diagnosis, treatment or prophylaxis.