SPIPERONE BINDING-CAPACITY IN LYMPHOCYTES OF PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOL-INDUCED AND DRUG-INDUCED PSYCHOSIS - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS

An increased spiperone binding capacity in lymphocytes has been propos ed as a possible biological marker for schizophrenia while in previous studies patients with alcohol dependence were shown to have a normal binding capacity. In a pilot study the spiperone binding capacity was studied in 8 patients with alcohol hallucinosis, 11 patients with acut e drug-induced psychosis and 12 patients with other organic psychosis. An increased binding capacity, defined as >4 fmol/l E6 cells, was fou nd in only 1 patient with alcohol hallucinosis, 3 patients with drug-i nduced psychosis and 2 patients with other organic psychosis. Possible implications of these findings for future research are discussed.