Vasopressin (DDAVP) therapy in chronic schizophrenia: effects on negative symptoms and memory.
Ten chronic undifferentiated schizophrenics, 6 men and 4 women, aged 28-63, with 6- to 31-year histories of the disease were given DDAVP to observe the effects of this neuropeptide on the prevalent negative symptoms of their illness. Patients were maintained on neuroleptic therapy and first given a 20-day course of placebo followed by 20 days of DDAVP i.m., 4 micrograms Andreasen Scale for assessment of negative symptoms, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the NOSIE Rating Scale and the Luria-Nebraska Rating Scale were administered to monitor negative symptomatology, behavior and memory before the study began, after placebo and after DDAVP administration. Patients were also given a growth hormone-clonidine test and in addition plasma basal concentrations of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), homovanillic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were measured at the same intervals. DDAVP therapy induced a significant improvement of negative symptomatology and a trend toward improvement of short- to medium-term memory. No changes in homovanillic acid, MHPG, 5-HIAA and DOPAC, nor of growth hormone response to clonidine stimulation were observed.
Brambilla
F
F
Ospedale Psichiatrico Pini, Milano, Italia.
Bondiolotti
G P
GP
Maggioni
M
M
Sciascia
A
A
Grillo
W
W
Sanna
F
F
Latina
A
A
Picotti
G B
GB
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000187:drug effects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood; D013850:Thinking / Q000187:drug effects
D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D012701:Serotonin; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine