PHENYLETHYLAMINE ACID SCHIZOPHRENIA

O'Reilly, Richard L. and Bruce A. Davis: Phenylethylamine and Schizoph renia. Frog. Neuro-Psychopharmacol. and Biol. Psychiat. 1994, 18(1): 6 3-75. 1. The evidence that phenylethylamine (PEA) plays a role in the etiology of schizophrenia is reviewed. 2. PEA shares structural and ph ysiological similarities with the amphetamines, the administration of which can induce a schizophrenia-like psychosis. 3. While there are a number of reports of high urinary PEA excretion in schizophrenic patie nts, the measurement of PEA in other body fluids and the measurement o f phenylacetic acid (the major metabolite of PEA) has resulted in inco nsistent findings. 4. The use of neuroleptic medication is a major con founding variable in most of the clinical studies. If PEA does have a role in the etiology of schizophrenia, the mechanism may involve PEAs ability to amplify dopamine responses.