title: A biomodal distribution of plasma HVA/MHPG in the psychoses.
abstract: In an attempt to estimate dopamine production in psychotic patients, pHVA and pMHPG were assessed from morning blood samples of fasting, neuroleptic-free patients. The (pHVA/pMHPG) ratio was bimodally distributed. The upper mode delineated a cluster of psychotics with excess central dopamine activity. Despite a comparable duration of illness, the high ratio cluster had an earlier age of onset and a more complete subacute response during neuroleptic treatment than did lower ratio patients. Comparisons were made between these clusters and clusters defined by the distribution of pHVA alone. The data suggest a disorder of feedback control of central dopamine metabolism in the high pHVA/pMHPG cluster.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas, Dallas, USA.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ottong
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Garver
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000097:blood*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D006719:Homovanillic Acid