PET study of the effects of valproate on dopamine D(2) receptors in neuroleptic- and mood-stabilizer-naive patients with nonpsychotic mania.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

A previous study reported a higher than normal density of dopamine D(2) receptors in psychotic mania but not in nonpsychotic mania. The purpose of this study was to further examine D(2) receptor density in a larger sample of nonpsychotic manic patients by using positron emission tomography (PET) and [(11)C]raclopride.

METHOD:

Thirteen neuroleptic- and mood- stabilizer-naive patients with DSM-IV mania without psychotic features and 14 healthy comparison subjects underwent [(11)C]raclopride PET scans. Of the 13 patients, 10 were treated with divalproex sodium monotherapy. PET scans were repeated 2-6 weeks after commencement of divalproex sodium. D(2) receptor binding potential was calculated by using a ratio method with the cerebellum as the reference region.

RESULTS:

The [(11)C]raclopride D(2) binding potential was not significantly different in manic patients than in the comparison subjects in the striatum. Treatment with divalproex sodium had no significant effect on the [(11)C]raclopride D(2) binding potential in manic patients. There was no correlation between the D(2) binding potential and manic symptoms before or after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results suggest that D(2) receptor density is not altered in nonpsychotic mania and that divalproex sodium treatment does not affect D(2) receptor availability.

• Authors: Lakshmi N Yatham, Peter F Liddle, Raymond W Lam, I-Shin Shiah, Carol Lane, A Jon Stoessl, Vesna Sossi, Thomas J Ruth
• Journal: The American journal of psychiatry (Am J Psychiatry) Vol. 159 Issue 10 Pg. 1718-23 (Oct 2002) ISSN: 0002-953X [Print] United States
• PMID: 12359678 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants
• Receptors, Dopamine D2
• Raclopride
• Valproic Acid

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Anticonvulsants (metabolism, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Bipolar Disorder (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, metabolism)
• Brain (diagnostic imaging, drug effects, metabolism)
• Cerebellum (diagnostic imaging, drug effects, metabolism)
• Corpus Striatum (diagnostic imaging, drug effects, metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Raclopride (metabolism)
• Receptors, Dopamine D2 (drug effects, metabolism)
• Tomography, Emission-Computed (statistics & numerical data)
• Valproic Acid (metabolism, pharmacology, therapeutic use)