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Effects of Intravenous and Subcutaneous Administration of Apomorphine on the Clinical Symptoms of Chronic Schizophrenics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

E. K. G. Syvälahti*
Affiliation:
Departments of Pharmacology, Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Turku, Turku 52, Finland
E. Säkö
Affiliation:
Departments of Pharmacology, Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Turku, Turku 52, Finland
M. Scheinin
Affiliation:
Departments of Pharmacology, Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Turku, Turku 52, Finland
K. Pihlajamäki
Affiliation:
Departments of Pharmacology, Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Turku, Turku 52, Finland
J. Hietala
Affiliation:
Departments of Pharmacology, Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Turku, Turku 52, Finland
*
Correspondence

Abstract

The effects of apomorphine, a stimulant of dopamine autoreceptors, were studied in 12 chronic schizophrenics on neuroleptic treatment; both subcutaneous and intravenous administration were used. Apomorphine has been reported to have therapeutic effects in previous studies but, we were not able to confirm any significant and specific differences in psychotic symptoms or tardive dyskinesia scores with apomorphine administration, compared with placebo. These results do not support the importance of dopamine autoreceptors in the regulation of schizophrenic and dyskinetic symptoms in chronic neuroleptic-treated patients.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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