Prolactin response to low-dose haloperidol challenge in schizophrenic, non-schizophrenic psychotic, and control subjects

Psychoneuroendocrinology. 1990;15(3):225-31. doi: 10.1016/0306-4530(90)90033-6.

Abstract

Haloperidol was administered IV to 46 male psychotic inpatients and 28 male control subjects. A two-way analysis of covariance, with age as the covariate, revealed that DSM-III schizophrenics (n = 27) had a lower prolactin response to haloperidol than did the controls (n = 28). There were no significant differences between the prolactin responses in schizophrenics, patients with affective disorders (n = 7), and those with other psychoses (n = 12), which included patients with paranoia, schizophreniform, schizoaffective disorder, and atypical psychoses. These findings support the proposition that tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic dysfunction may occur in certain patients with DSM-III schizophrenia.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Affective Disorders, Psychotic / blood
  • Female
  • Haloperidol / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Prolactin / blood*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Psychotic Disorders / blood*
  • Schizophrenia / blood*

Substances

  • Prolactin
  • Haloperidol