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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
6
pubmed:dateCreated
1996-8-16
pubmed:abstractText
We investigated the dopamine metabolite plasma homovanillic acid (plasma HVA) levels in 37 catatonic patients on the day of admission before initial medication as well as in 17 healthy controls. In a prospective study catatonic syndrome was diagnosed according to criteria of Lohr and Wiesniwski (1987) and Rosebush et al (1990) whereas comorbid diagnosis was made by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd ed, revised (DSM III/R) (APA 1987). On the day of admission blood samples were taken before initial medication. Compared to controls (80.1 +/- 40.1 pmol/mliter) catatonic patients showed significantly (P = 0.0286) increased plasma HVA (140.9 +/- 53.6 pmol/mliter). Catatonic patients free of neuroleptic medication (n = 21) differed significantly (p = 0.0416) from controls whereas neuroleptically treated catatonics (n = 16) did not. Our findings of increased plasma HVA in catatonia are explained by an alteration in either mesolimbic or mesocortical dopaminergic function, as is assumed in the case of schizophrenia. As an alternative, it may be due to increased nigrostriatal function, which can lead, as shown in animal experiments with the dopamine agonist amphetamine, to hypokinetic states resembling catatonia in humans.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Mar
pubmed:issn
0006-3223
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
15
pubmed:volume
39
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
436-43
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1996
pubmed:articleTitle
Plasma homovanillic acid concentrations in catatonia.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Psychiatry, University of Frankfurt, Germany.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article