EBSCO Logo
Connecting you to content on EBSCOhost
Results
Title

Prediction of changes in memory performance by plasma homovanillic acid levels in clozapine-treated patients with schizophrenia.

Authors

Sumiyoshi, Tomiki; Roy, A.; Kim, C.-H.; Jayathilake, K.; Lee, M. A.; Sumiyoshi, C.; Meltzer, H. Y.

Abstract

Rationale: Cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia has been demonstrated to be dependent, in part, on dopaminergic activity. Clozapine has been found to improve some domains of cognition, including verbal memory, in patients with schizophrenia. Objectives: This study tested the hypothesis that plasma homovanillic acid (pHVA) levels, a peripheral measure of central dopaminergic activity, would predict the change in memory performance in patients with schizophrenia treated with clozapine. Methods: Twenty-seven male patients with schizophrenia received clozapine treatment for 6 weeks. Verbal list learning (VLL)-Delayed Recall (VLL-DR), a test of secondary verbal memory, was administered before and after clozapine treatment. Blood samples to measure pHVA levels were collected at baseline. Results: Baseline pHVA levels were negatively correlated with change in performance on VLL-DR; the lower baseline pHVA level was associated with greater improvement in performance on VLL-DR during treatment with clozapine. Baseline pHVA levels in subjects who showed improvement in verbal memory during clozapine treatment (n=13) were significantly lower than those in subjects whose memory performance did not improve (n=14). Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that baseline pHVA levels predict the ability of clozapine to improve memory performance in patients with schizophrenia.

Subjects

HOMOVANILLIC acid; PHENYLACETATES; MEMORY; COGNITION; CLOZAPINE; DOPAMINE; SCHIZOPHRENIA

Publication

Psychopharmacology, 2004, Vol 177, Issue 1/2, p79

ISSN

0033-3158

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1007/s00213-004-1924-5

EBSCO Connect | Privacy policy | Terms of use | Copyright | Manage my cookies
Journals | Subjects | Sitemap
© 2025 EBSCO Industries, Inc. All rights reserved