MONOAMINE NEUROTRANSMITTER METABOLITES AND SPONTANEOUS RECURRENCE OF METHAMPHETAMINE PSYCHOSIS

The present study was conducted to evaluate plasma levels of monoamine neurotransmitter metabolites in spontaneous recurrences of methamphet amine psychosis (i.e., flashbacks). The subjects were 50 physically he althy females comprised of 25 who experienced flashbacks (flashbackers ), 16 who did not experience flashbacks (nonflashbackers), even though they had previously experienced methamphetamine psychosis, and 9 who were currently suffering from persistent methamphetamine psychosis. Th e control data were available from 28 normal healthy females, of whom 20 had previously abused methamphetamine (users) and 8 who had not (no nusers), none of whom had ever become psychotic, Plasma levels of nore pinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and th eir respective metabolites were assayed. Plasma NE levels were signifi cantly higher in the 25 flashbackers during their flashbacks than duri ng their periods of normalcy, and were significantly higher than those in the 20 user and 8 nonuser controls. Plasma 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphen ylglycol (MHPG) levels during flashbacks were significantly higher tha n those in the 20 user controls. The nine subjects with persistent met hamphetamine psychosis had significantly higher NE levels than the use r and nonuser controls. The 16 nonflashbackers had significantly highe r MHPG levels than the user controls. The present study suggests that an increase in peripheral noradrenergic activity is related to the occ urrence of flashbacks. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.