The effect of apomorphine on regional cerebral blood flow in schizophrenia.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of the effects of apomorphine on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during a prefrontal cortex activation task was undertaken to explore the role of dopamine on cortical function. The subjects were eight drug-free, chronically psychotic patients; six patients had schizophrenia. In each, apomorphine increased the relative prefrontal flow. The results suggest that enhanced prefrontal dopamine activity may reverse deficits in prefrontal cortex metabolism in schizophrenia.
Daniel
D G
DG
Clinical Brain Disorders Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, St. Elizabeths Hospital, Washington, D.C. 20032.
Berman
K F
KF
Weinberger
D R
DR
D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology