Peripheral-type benzodiazepine-binding sites in platelets of schizophrenics with and without tardive dyskinesia

The density of peripheral-type benzodiazepine (BZ)-binding sites was studied in platelets of 10 medicated chronic schizophrenics with tardive dyskinesia (TD), 10 medicated chronic schizophrenics without TD, 7 drug-free schizophrenics, and 10 normal controls. The age range of the study population was 36-60 years. Age and sex distribution were similar in all 4 groups. The unmedicated schizophrenics did not differ in their maximal binding capacity from the healthy controls. A significant decrease in the density of peripheral-type BZ-binding sites in platelets was observed in treated schizophrenics both with and without TD in comparison to controls and untreated schizophrenics. The reduction in [3H]PK 11195 binding was more pronounced in TD patients (31.3% of controls) than in patients without TD (21.1% of controls). However, this parameter failed to discriminate statistically between TD and non-TD medicated schizophrenics.