Urinary MHPG and ward behavior in unmedicated psychiatric patients

The relationship between urinary excretion of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) and overt behaviors emitted in two hospital environments was examined in a group of 27 drug-free psychiatric patients. Depressed patients with high MHPG excretion ate less and engaged in less visual activity in the lunch environment. Schizophrenic patients but not depressive patients with high MHPG tended to have greater body activity during the gym environment. The implications of these findings for the identification of subtypes of depression and schizophrenia, and for an improved methodology in investigation of biobehavioral relations in clinical populations, are discussed.