Molecular Imaging Studies of the Striatal Dopaminergic System in Psychosis and Predictions for the Prodromal Phase of Psychosis

Overview

Journal Br J Psychiatry Suppl

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2008 Jan 19

PMID 18055930

Citations 56

Authors

Oliver D Howes

Andrew J Montgomery

Marie-Claude Asselin

Robin M Murray

Paul M Grasby

Philip K McGuire

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The dopamine hypothesis has been the major pathophysiological theory of psychosis in recent decades. Molecular imaging studies have provided in vivo evidence of increased dopamine synaptic availability and increased presynaptic dopamine synthesis in the striata of people with psychotic illnesses. These studies support the predictions of the dopamine hypothesis, but it remains to be determined whether dopaminergic abnormalities pre-date or are secondary to the development of psychosis. We selectively review the molecular imaging studies of the striatal dopaminergic system in psychosis and link this to models of psychosis and the functional subdivisions of the striatum to make predictions for the dopaminergic system in the prodromal phase of psychosis.

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