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Use of the cortical epinephrine pressor response in rabbits as a diagnostic test for schizophrenia

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Summary

  1. 1.

    A careful replication of the Minz and Walaszek test failed to demonstrate its reliability as a clinical tool for diagnosing schizophrenia.

  2. 2.

    Human serum contains substances toxic to rabbits. There is some indication that schizophrenic serum has greater toxicity than nonschizophrenic sera.

  3. 3.

    Local application of a 5% epinephrine solution to the cerebral cortex causes a rise in blood pressure in about half the rabbits treated with normal serum.

  4. 4.

    Effects of some tests with psychoactive drugs on the local epinephrine responses are reported.

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Additional information

Supported by United States Public Health Service grants MY-1971 and MY-1972, R. W. Gerard, M.D., Ph.D. Principal Investigator.

With technical assistance of Neil V. Williams.

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Fujita, S., Rosenzweig, N. Use of the cortical epinephrine pressor response in rabbits as a diagnostic test for schizophrenia. Psychopharmacologia 4, 367–376 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00405247

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00405247

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