Urinary Cyclic AMP in Periodic Catatonia
THOMAS L. PERRY M.D.1,
GEORGE I. DRUMMOND PH.D.1,
SUSAN HEMMINGS 2,
SHIRLEY HANSEN 3, , and
LEIV R. GJESSING DR. MED.4
1 Professor, Department of Pharmacology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver 8, B.C., Canada
2 Research Assistant, Department of Pharmacology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver 8, B.C., Canada
3 Research Associate with the Department of Pharmacology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver 8, B.C., Canada
4 Chief of the Central Laboratory, Dikemark Sykehus, Asker, Norway
Urinary excretion of 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) was measured in two patients with long-established periodic catatonia. One patient exhibited profound stupor in his psychotic phases, while the other exhibited catatonic excitement. No significant differences in urinary cyclic AMP levels were found in either patient between the interval and psychotic phases, nor were there any significant changes in cyclic AMP excretion at or just before the time of abrupt switch from the interval of normality to catatonic stupor or excitement.
