Abstract
We have previously described an association between higher serotonin (5-HT) responsivity, indexed by prolactin response to D-fenfluramine challenge, and poorer treatment response to haloperidol in non-medicated schizophrenics. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of antidopaminergic treatment on the prolactin response in the repeated challenge test. D-Fenfluramine was administered to 22 young, acutely ill schizophrenics (11 females and 11 males) after 4 weeks of haloperidol treatment. Whereas neuroleptic administration significantly raised basal prolactin levels (P <0.0001), subsequent D-fenfluramine challenge produced an additional significant increase (P <0.001). Moreover, the magnitude of this increase was not different from the pretreatment response. Our results demonstrate that prolactin response to the challenge is mediated through the 5-HT system. An observed negative association between posttreatment prolactin response and therapeutic response to haloperidol did not reach statistical significance.
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Received: 4 May 1998/Final version: 7 July 1998
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Mohr, P., Horáček, J., Motlová, L. et al. Effects of haloperidol treatment on prolactin response to D-fenfluramine challenge in acute schizophrenia. Psychopharmacology 141, 322–325 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002130050840
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002130050840