Phenylacetic acid in CSF and serum in Indian schizophrenic patients

1. It has been proposed that an increase in the concentration of the neuromodulator phenylethylamine at the post-synaptic dopamine receptor may be involved in the etiology of schizophrenia. If this increase is the case, a reduction in the CSF and/or serum concentrations of phenylacetic acid, its major metabolite, might be anticipated. 2. The authors have found in hospitalized Indian schizophrenic patients ingesting antipsychotic drugs, that the paranoid subgroup did indeed exhibit lower levels of unconjugated, conjugated and total phenylacetic acid in both serum and CSF.