CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID LEVELS OF PHENYLACETIC ACID IN MENTAL-ILLNESS - BEHAVIORAL ASSOCIATIONS AND RESPONSE TO NEUROLEPTIC TREATMENT

Cerebrospinal fluid levels of phenylacetic acid (CSF PAA) were obtaine d from normal controls and from drug-free psychiatric inpatients (schi zophrenia, major depression, mania, and schizoaffective disorder). Pos t-treatment CSF PAA levels were obtained from 16 patients after 4 week s of neuroleptic treatment. Phenylacetic acid levels were higher in wo men and were significantly correlated with age. There were no differen ces in CSF PAA levels between the various diagnostic groups and no dif ference between the paranoid and the nonparanoid subtypes of schizophr enia. CSF PAA was significantly correlated with several measures of ps ychopathology, especially the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale hostility /suspiciousness factor. Neuroleptic treatment did not result in signif icant PAA changes. These findings are discussed in light of the amphet amine-like role ascribed to phenylethylamine, the precursor of PAA.