Neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in schizophrenia. Relationships with clinical measures.
Neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity (NPY-li) was measured in CSF of 35 drug-free chronic schizophrenic patients. Compared to a group of drug-free controls, CSF NPY-li was significantly higher in these patients. CSF NPY-li decreased with age and longer duration of illness. Measures of structural brain abnormalities on CT scans were significantly associated with lower CSF NPY-li. Relationships between NPY-li and schizophrenic behavior, i.e. positive symptoms, were observed only in the clinically stable (nonrelapsed) drug-free patients. In 31 of the patients CSF was obtained before and after withdrawal from haloperidol maintenance treatment. This withdrawal from haloperidol treatment was associated with a significant increase in CSF NPY-li. There was no significant difference in CSF NPY-li between patients who did and those who did not relapse within 6 weeks following haloperidol withdrawal. The present findings suggest a relationship of CSF NPY-li with various aspects of schizophrenia.
Peters
J
J
Highland Drive VAMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.
Van Kammen
D P
DP
Gelernter
J
J
Yao
J
J
Shaw
D
D
D000328:Adult; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017476:Receptors, Neuropeptide Y; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D017476:Receptors, Neuropeptide Y; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D006220:Haloperidol