Am J Psychiatry 1975; 132:593-597
Copyright © 1975 by American Psychiatric Association
Neuroleptics, catecholamines, and psychoses: a study of their interrelations
HM Van Praag and J Korf
The authors examined central catecholamine metabolism in various
symptomatological psychotic disorders and the relationship between the
biochemical and therapeutic action profiles of neuroleptics. Haloperidol
and (to a lesser entent) chlorpromaziner icrease the dopamine (DA) turnover
in the central nervous system, but the authors influenced; oxypertine has
the reverse effect. The authors question whether disorders of DA-metabolism
underlie or result from disorders of motor activity, postulating that the
hyperdopaminergic activity observable in psychoses is dependent on motor
hyperactivity rather than on "true" or psychotic symptoms such as delusions
and hallucinations.
