Striatal Volume Increase After Six Weeks of Selective Dopamine D_2/3 Receptor Blockade in First-Episode, Antipsychotic-Naive Schizophrenia Patients.

ABSTRACT: Patients with chronic schizophrenia often display enlarged striatal volumes, and antipsychotic drugs may contribute via the dopamine D_2/3 receptor (D_2/3R) blockade. Separating the effects of disease from medication is challenging due to the lack of a proper placebo-group. To address this, we conducted a longitudinal study of antipsychotic-naïve, first-episode schizophrenia patients to test the hypothesis that selective blockade of D_2/3R would induce a dose-dependent striatal volume increase. Twenty-one patients underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and symptom severity ratings before and after six weeks of amisulpride treatment. Twenty-three matched healthy controls underwent sMRI and bas

SUBMITTER: Andersen HG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7251943 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature