OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated the putative endogenous
antipsychotic neurotensin in relation to both psychotic symptoms and
patterns of response during treatment with an antipsychotic drug. METHOD:
Twenty recently admitted patients with mood-incongruent psychoses underwent
1) interviews with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia
for diagnostic evaluation and symptom profiles, 2) drug-free baseline
measurements of CSF neurotensin and homovanillic acid, and 3) close
monitoring of a therapeutic trial of haloperidol to determine latency of
antipsychotic response. RESULTS: A relative deficiency in CSF neurotensin
was found in a subgroup of psychotic women whose clinical response to
haloperidol was delayed for 11 to 35 days after initiation of the
neuroleptic. These patients had greater thought disorder,
delusions-hallucinations, behavioral disorganization, and impaired
functioning than did psychotic patients with higher CSF concentrations of
neurotensin. Neurotensin concentrations increased during treatment with
haloperidol. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides further evidence that there is
diminished availability of neurotensin in some psychotic patients, with
increases in neurotensin early in neuroleptic treatment. Exploration of
neurotensin receptor agonists as a potentially novel class of antipsychotic
compounds is suggested.Abstract Teaser