Effects of clozapine and fluphenazine treatment on responses to m-chlorophenylpiperazine infusions in schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
To explore serotonin function in patients with schizophrenia during typical and atypical neuroleptic treatment. We hypothesized that clinically relevant doses of the atypical neuroleptic clozapine would attenuate responses to the serotonin agonist m-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP).


METHODS
m-CPP or placebo was administered intravenously over 90 seconds to patients who had been receiving no medications for at least 3 weeks. m-CPP was also administered during treatment with the typical neuroleptic fluphenazine and the atypical neuroleptic clozapine.


METHODS
Fifteen inpatients (two women and 13 men) who met DSM-III-R criteria for chronic schizophrenia (n = 13) or schizoaffective disorder (n = 2) participated in the study. Mean age (+/- SD) was 33.8 +/- 8.0 years.


METHODS
Measures of m-CPP effects included plasma cortisol and prolactin, body temperature, and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). The final BPRS total score at approximately 12 weeks of treatment was used to assess response to clozapine.


RESULTS
m-CPP infusion significantly increased plasma cortisol and prolactin levels in drug-free patients. There was a range of behavioral responses while drug-free, but no statistically significant effects on BPRS total or BPRS factor scores. Clozapine treatment significantly blocked neuroendocrine responses to m-CPP, whereas fluphenazine had no effect. Clozapine also appeared to attenuate behavioral responses.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that clozapine treatment has potent serotonin antagonist effects in patients with schizophrenia. This may be related to clozapine's therapeutic effects since patients with greater cortisol response to m-CPP while drug-free had a better subsequent response to clozapine.
Owen
R R
RR
Experimental Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md.
Gutierrez-Esteinou
R
R
Hsiao
J
J
Hadd
K
K
Benkelfat
C
C
Lawlor
B A
BA
Murphy
D L
DL
Pickar
D
D
D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D003024:Clozapine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005476:Fluphenazine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010919:Placebos; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
D010879:Piperazines; D010919:Placebos; D012701:Serotonin; D011388:Prolactin; D003024:Clozapine; C015068:1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine; D005476:Fluphenazine; D006854:Hydrocortisone