Abstract
Background: Research suggests an association between abnormal exocytosis and schizophrenia. We previously demonstrated increased synaptosomal associated protein, 25 kDa (SNAP-25), a member of the exocytotic mechanism, in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of schizophrenia subjects. In this study, we explored SNAP-25 level and clinical variables in a new group of subjects. Methods: Twenty-five haloperidol-treated subjects with chronic schizophrenia and twenty-five healthy control subjects participated in the study. Subjects received haloperidol treatment for at least 3 months and then had a lumbar puncture (n = 19). Medication was replaced by placebo, and the lumbar puncture was repeated (n = 25) after 6 weeks or sooner if limited psychotic symptoms occurred. We measured the level of SNAP-25 in the CSF and symptoms with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Results: In both haloperidol (p = .001) and placebo (p = .001) treatment conditions, SNAP-25 was elevated. There was no significant difference in SNAP-25 level between conditions. We identified significant positive correlations among SNAP-25 and the BPRS total score and psychosis and thinking disturbance subscales in subjects on haloperidol. Conclusions: These observations confirm our previous report of elevated CSF SNAP-25 and suggest that synaptic pathology may be linked with the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1132-1137 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Biological Psychiatry |
Volume | 53 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 15 2003 |
Keywords
- Cerebrospinal fluid
- Exocytosis
- Postmortem
- Psychosis
- SNAP-25
- Schizophrenia
- Synapse
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biological Psychiatry