Dopamine in schizophrenia

Abi-Dargham, A., Rodenhiser, J., Printz, D. et al. Increased baseline occupancy of D2 receptors by dopamine in schizophrenia. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 97 8104-8109, 2000. 

Improved methods of studying brain chemicals, including methods such as PET that permit the study of living tissue, confirm the importance of dopamine in schizophrenia, though it is probably not the only factor. Scientists study other factors, many of which are related to synaptic transmission, such as genes involved in synaptic transmission. 

DasGupta K, Young A Clozapine-induced neuroleptic malignant syndrome. J Clin Psychiatry 52 105-107, 1991 Davis KL, Kahn RS, Ko G, et al Dopamine in schizophrenia a review and reconceptualization. Am J Psychiatry 148 1474-1486, 1991 Devinsky O, Honigfeld G, Patin J Clozapine-related seizures. Neurology 41 369-371, 1991... 

Bertolino A, Breier A, Callicott JH, Adler C, Mattay VS, et al. 2000. The relationship between dorsolateral prefrontal neuronal N- acetylaspartate and evoked release of striatal dopamine in schizophrenia. Neuropsychopharmacology 22 125-132. 

Two main lines of evidence point to the involvement of dopamine receptors in the etiology of schizophrenia. First, all known antipsychotic medications share the ability to block D2 dopamine receptors (Seeman et al., 1975 Farde et al., 1992 Kasper et al., 1999). Secondly, several studies have reported a subcortical hyperdopaminergic state in schizophrenia indicative of a dysregulation of dopamine in schizophrenia (Laruelle et al., 1999). 

The predominant neurochemical hypothesis involves the neurotransmitter dopamine. This hypothesis was based on the observation that all drugs that are effective in ameliorating psychotic symptoms have a common mechanism of action in blocking the dopamine D2 receptor. Furthermore, the clinical antipsychotic potencies of these drugs are directly related to their affinities for the dopamine D2 receptor. Thus, a relative excess in dopamine is postulated to account for psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia. Demonstrating excess dopamine in schizophrenia has... 

Davis, K., R. Kahn, G. Ko, and M. Davidson. 1991. Dopamine in schizophrenia A review and reconceptualization. American Journal of Psychiatry. 148 1474-84. 

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