Is schizophrenia associated with narcolepsy?
OBJECTIVE
To determine the nature of the relationship between schizophrenia-like psychosis and narcolepsy.


BACKGROUND
A relationship between schizophrenia and narcolepsy has long been postulated due to the association of schizophrenia-like psychosis with narcolepsy and its treatment.


METHODS
We report two patients who presented with schizophrenia-like psychosis of narcolepsy and review the literature regarding possible shared neurobiology between the two disorders that might explain their co-occurrence.


RESULTS
There appears to be little in the way of common pathology between these two conditions when symptoms, human leukocyte antigen associations, rapid eye movement sleep architecture, D2-dopamine receptor changes, and hypocretinergic function are examined.


CONCLUSIONS
The available literature suggests that schizophrenia-like psychosis in narcolepsy is most commonly medication related or a chance co-occurrence, with limited evidence for a separate psychosis of narcolepsy.
Walterfang
Mark
M
Neuropsychiatry Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. mark.walterfang@mh.org.au
Upjohn
Edward
E
Velakoulis
Dennis
D
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009290:Narcolepsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents