The effect of apomorphine on regional cerebral blood flow in schizophrenia.

Author(s): Daniel DG, Berman KF, Weinberger DR

Affiliation(s): Clinical Brain Disorders Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, St. Elizabeths Hospital, Washington, D.C. 20032.

Publication date & source: 1989-09, J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci., 1(4):377-84.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of the effects of apomorphine on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during a prefrontal cortex activation task was undertaken to explore the role of dopamine on cortical function. The subjects were eight drug-free, chronically psychotic patients; six patients had schizophrenia. In each, apomorphine increased the relative prefrontal flow. The results suggest that enhanced prefrontal dopamine activity may reverse deficits in prefrontal cortex metabolism in schizophrenia.