Postpartum psychosis with abnormal movements: dopamine supersensitivity unmasked by withdrawal of endogenous estrogens?
The authors describe two cases of postpartum psychosis accompanied by abnormal extrapyramidal movements. The presentation of these cases, as well as research evidence indicating that estrogens influence dopamine receptor function, leads the authors to hypothesize that dopamine receptor supersensitivity may have been induced by prepartum increases in endogenous estrogens and unmasked by postpartum estrogen withdrawal.
Vinogradov
S
S
Department of Psychiatry, Pacific Presbyterian Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94115.
Csernansky
J G
JG
D000328:Adult; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D004967:Estrogens; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine