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Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) in the CSF of Schizophrenic Patients Before and After Neuroleptic Treatment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

D. Lichtshtein
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, Hadassah-Hebrew-University Medical School Jerusalem, Israel
J. Dobkin
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, Hadassah-Hebrew-University Medical School Jerusalem, Israel
R. P. Ebstein
Affiliation:
Department of Research, Jerusalem Mental Health Centre—Ezrat Nashim, PO Box 140, Jerusalem, Israel
J. Biederman
Affiliation:
Department of Research, Jerusalem Mental Health Centre—Ezrat Nashim, PO Box 140, Jerusalem, Israel
R. Rimon
Affiliation:
Department of Research, Jerusalem Mental Health Centre—Ezrat Nashim, PO Box 140, Jerusalem, Israel
R. H. Belmaker
Affiliation:
Department of Research, Jerusalem Mental Health Centre—Ezrat Nashim, PO Box 140, Jerusalem, Israel

Abstract

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in the CSF were measured in 9 normal individuals, 17 drug-free schizophrenic patients and 10 of these same schizophrenic patients after neuroleptic treatment. There was no significant difference between CSF level of GABA in the control group compared to those in schizophrenic patients; however, 6 of the 7 lowest GABA levels were from schizophrenic patients. There was a significant decline of 12 per cent in mean GABA levels in the CSF after a mean of two months of neuroleptic treatment.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1978 

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