Studies on prolactin in major psychoses--with reference to prolactin response to stress in schizophrenia

The serum prolactin concentrations of schizophrenics with delusions or hallucinations, hypomanics, depressives, alcoholics with and without psychotic symptoms were examined. Among them, only the serum prolactin concentrations of alcoholics with psychotic symptoms were significantly higher when compared to the normal controls. In a stress experiment, the alterations of serum prolactin seen in schizophrenics were significantly greater when compared to the normal controls. The results are discussed in connection with the neurochemical mechanisms for the emotional states caused by stress.