Dopaminergic Supersensitivity and Vomiting Among Schizophrenic Patients

The prevalence of vomiting among schizophrenic inpatients was determined over a 6-week period; 8 of 19 patients (42%) experienced at least one episode of vomiting and 3 (16%) experienced 4 episodes. A hypothesis that this may be a dopaminergic supersensitivity phenomenon is proposed, but no association with tardive dyskinesia, another putative supersensitivity phenomena, could be demonstrated. The authors suggest that vomiting among schizophrenic patients is usually underestimated and may at times be a serious clinical problem.