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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
and
Rosebush, et al, 1990
whereas comorbid diagnosis was made by
American Psychological Association, 1987
. On the day of admission blood samples were taken before initial medication. Compared
to controls (80.1 ± 40.1 pmol/mL) catatonic patients showed significantly (p = 0.0286) increased plasma HVA (140.9 ± 53.6 pmol/mL). 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.
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Article info
Publication history
Received in revised form:
March 7,
1995
Received:
September 23,
1994
Identification
Copyright
© 1996 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc.
