BLOOD AND URINARY SEROTONIN AND 5-HYDROXYINDOLE ACETIC ACID LEVELS IN SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENTS AND NORMAL SUBJECTS1

Abstract

The mean concentration of blood serotonin in normal non-psychotic male subjects was found to be 0.19 [mu]g/ml, in chronic schizophrenic male patients, 0.17 [mu]g/ml, and in acute psychotic male patients, 0.12 [mu]g/ml. The mean urinary excretion rate of 5-HIAA in normal male subjects was found to be 203 [mu]g/hr, in chronic schizophrenic male patients, 225 [mu]g/hr, and in acute psychotic male patients, 332 [mu]g/hr. Results do not indicate a metabolic defect in serotonin metabolism and therefore do not support the hypothesis of a causal relationship between serotonin metabolism and acute or chronic schizophrenia.