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The acute transient polymorphic psychosis: a biochemical subtype of the cycloid psychosis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 June 2014

L Pepplinkhuizen ,
F M M A van der Heijden ,
S Tuinier ,
W M A Verhoeven  and
D Fekkes
L Pepplinkhuizen
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam
F M M A van der Heijden*
Affiliation:
Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Venray, the Netherlands
S Tuinier
Affiliation:
Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Venray, the Netherlands
W M A Verhoeven
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Venray, the Netherlands
D Fekkes
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam
*
FMMA Van der Heijden MD, Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Stationsweg 46, 5803 AC Venray, the Netherlands. Tel. 31.478.527339, Fax: 31.478.527110; E-mail:fvanderheijden@vvgi.nl
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Abstract

Background:

The pathogenesis of atypical psychoses, in particularly those characterized by polymorphic psychopathology, is hypothesized to be related to disturbances in amino acid metabolism.

Objective:

In the present study, the role of the amino acid serine was investigated in patients with acute transient polymorphic psychosis.

Methods:

Patients were loaded with serine and with the amino acids glycine and alanine as controls and subsequently evaluated for the development of psychopathological symptoms. In addition, plasma levels of amino acids were measured.

Results:

In a subgroup of patients suffering from atypical psychoses, this biochemical challenge resulted in the reappearance of psychedelic symptoms in particular. Furthermore, significantly lower plasma concentrations of serine were found. In vitro experiments revealed a disturbance in the one-carbon metabolism. In another group of patients the loading provoked vegetative symptoms and fatigue.

Conclusions:

Disturbances in amino acid metabolism may be involved in the emergence of certain psychotic disorders.

Keywords

acute polymorphic psychosisamino acidscycloid psychosisserineTSM-ratio
Type
Research Article
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , February 2003 , pp. 38 - 43
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 Blackwell Munksgaard

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