Striatal D2 dopaminergic receptors of 12 drug-free schizophrenic
patients and 12 normal subjects were investigated with positron emission
tomography and [76Br]bromospiperone. Patients were classified according to
DSM-III criteria, and their clinical symptoms were rated according to
Andreasen's negative and positive symptom scales. The ratio of striatal to
cerebellar radioactivity was taken as an index of striatal D2 dopamine
receptor density. There was no significant difference between the control
subjects and the overall schizophrenic group and no significant
relationship between this index and the symptom ratings. However,
state-dependent variables could partly account for the striatal D2 receptor
density variability.
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