Fluctuating high urinary phenylethylamine excretion rates in some bipolar affective disorder patients

Five women with primary major bipolar affective disorders had variable and at times very high urinary phenylethylamine (PEA) excretion rates. The clinical picture of these patients was characterized by periodic bizarre behaviors and short psychotic episodes. These patients were generally nonresponsive to the usual treatment modalities, and their symptoms were exacerbated by nonspecific monoamine oxidase inhibitors which further increased PEA excretion rates.