Neuroleptics, catecholamines, and psychoses: a study of their interrelations

The authors examined central catecholamine metabolism in various symptomatological psychotic disorders and the relationship between the biochemical and therapeutic action profiles of neuroleptics. Haloperidol and (to a lesser entent) chlorpromaziner icrease the dopamine (DA) turnover in the central nervous system, but the authors influenced; oxypertine has the reverse effect. The authors question whether disorders of DA-metabolism underlie or result from disorders of motor activity, postulating that the hyperdopaminergic activity observable in psychoses is dependent on motor hyperactivity rather than on "true" or psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations.