Baclofen-induced growth hormone secretion is blunted in chronic schizophrenics: Neuroendocrine evidence for a GABA disturbance in schizophrenia

To substantiate a previously reported disturbance of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in chronic schizophrenia, plasma growth hormone (GH) response to a direct GABA agonist (baclofen, 10 mg) was assessed in 12 unmedicated chronic schizophrenic males and 10 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Baclofen a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychiatry research 1988-10, Vol.26 (1), p.1-9
Main Authors: Monteleone, Palmiero, Maj, Mario, Iovino, Michele, Forziati, Domenico, Veltro, Franco, Steardo, Luca
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Baclofen
Biological and medical sciences
Brain - physiopathology
Chronic Disease
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - physiology
growth hormone
Growth Hormone - blood
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Miscellaneous
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Receptors, GABA-A - physiology
schizophrenia
Schizophrenia - blood
Techniques and methods
γ-aminobutyric acid
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Summary:To substantiate a previously reported disturbance of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in chronic schizophrenia, plasma growth hormone (GH) response to a direct GABA agonist (baclofen, 10 mg) was assessed in 12 unmedicated chronic schizophrenic males and 10 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Baclofen and placebo were administered orally, in a double-blind design, and blood samples were collected before and 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 min after drug or placebo administration. Baclofen induced a clear-cut rise in plasma GH levels over baseline values, but the GH increase observed in the patients was significantly smaller than that in controls. These results support the idea that GABA mechanisms may be impaired in chronic schizophrenia.
ISSN:0165-1781
1872-7123
DOI:10.1016/0165-1781(88)90081-9