title: Decreased frontal serotonin2A receptor binding in antipsychotic-naive patients with first-episode schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postmortem investigations and the receptor affinity profile of atypical antipsychotics have implicated the participation of serotonin(2A) receptors in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Most postmortem studies point toward lower cortical serotonin(2A) binding in schizophrenic patients. However, in vivo studies of serotonin(2A) binding report conflicting results, presumably because sample sizes have been small or because schizophrenic patients who were not antipsychotic-naive were included. Furthermore, the relationships between serotonin(2A) binding, psychopathology, and central neurocognitive deficits in schizophrenia are unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess in vivo brain serotonin(2A) binding potentials in a large sample of antipsychotic-naive schizophrenic patients and matched healthy controls, and to examine possible associations with psychopathology, memory, attention, and executive functions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital, Denmark.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 30 first-episode, antipsychotic-naive schizophrenic patients, 23 males and 7 females, and 30 matched healthy control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Positron emission tomography with the serotonin(2A)-specific radioligand fluorine 18-labeled altanserin and administration of a neuropsychological test battery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Binding potential of specific tracer binding, scores on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, and results of neuropsychological testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Schizophrenic patients had significantly lower serotonin(2A) binding in the frontal cortex than did control subjects. A significant negative correlation was observed between frontal cortical serotonin(2A) binding and positive psychotic symptoms in the male patients. No correlations were found between cognitive functions and serotonin(2A) binding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that frontal cortical serotonin(2A) receptors are involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00207064.
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, Copenhagen University Hospital, Psychiatric University Center Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark. h.rasmussen@cnsr.dk
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Erritzoe
authors.forename: Rune
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Bjorn H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Ebdrup
authors.forename: Bodil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aggernaes
authors.forename: Bob
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oranje
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kalbitzer
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: Lars H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Pinborg
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Baaré
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Svarer
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lublin
authors.forename: Gitte M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.forename: Birte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Glenthoj
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D012701:Serotonin; C071983:altanserin; D007650:Ketanserin