Abstract:

The present study was undertaken to clarify the role of serotonin system in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and tardive dyskinesia. 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) concentrations in CSF were m easured in 30 schizophrenic patients with tardive dyskinesia, 13 schizophrenic patients without tardive dyskinesia and 26 neurologic patients without psychotic symptoms as control group. The rerults were as follows: 1) CSF 5-HIAA concentrations in schizophrenic patients without tardive dyskinesia were not significantly different from those in neurologic patients. 2) A significant reduction in CSF 5-HIAA levels was observed in dyskinetic schizophrenics compared with the neurologic patients or schizophrenic patients without tardive dyskinesia. 3) The severity of dyskinetic symptoms was not correlated with the level of CSF 5-HIAA. The result of this study might be suggested that serotonin system is involved in the pathophysiology of tardive dyskinesia in certain subtype.