title: Effects of antipsychotic treatment on psychopathology and motor symptoms. A placebo-controlled study in healthy volunteers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is increased interest in elucidating the range of symptoms of schizophrenia and their response to treatment with medications. Particularly negative and cognitive symptoms are often resistant to the therapy with currently available antipsychotics. There are even similarities between negative symptoms in psychosis and the side effects of antidopaminergic antipsychotic drugs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled study was to investigate the influence of a subchronic, prolonged neuroleptic-induced dopamine deficit on psychopathology and subjective well-being in healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-two healthy volunteers without history of psychiatric diseases were included. A 7-day antidopaminergic intervention was provided with aripiprazole, haloperidol, and reserpine. For the clinical assessment, structured interviews and psychopathology and extrapyramidal symptom scales were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven out of 18 participants (38.9%) randomized to the haloperidol group terminated the study ahead of schedule. In the reserpine and the haloperidol group, significantly higher levels of negative and positive symptoms (PANSS scale) were documented. Depressive symptoms predominantly occurred in the reserpine group. Among all participants experiencing the antidopaminergic intervention, the subgroup with positive family history among first and second-generation relatives developed more pronounced depressive symptoms. Concerning extrapyramidal motor symptoms, the haloperidol group had significantly more severe manifestations than all three other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antidopaminergic modulation in healthy subjects induced substantial impairments in several domains of subjective well-being. In particular an association between hypodopaminergic states and depressive symptoms was observed which may be amplified by a genetic predisposition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany. tveselinovic@ukaachen.de
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Veselinović
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schorn
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vernaleken
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schiffl
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hiemke
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zernig
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gur
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gründer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015363:Quinolones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012110:Reserpine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D015363:Quinolones; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D012110:Reserpine; D006220:Haloperidol; D004298:Dopamine