Adrenochrome As the Cause of Schizophrenia: Investigation of Some Deductions from this Hypothesis

Abstract

Osmond and Smythies (1952) have given reasons for reviving the view originally put forward by Bleuler (1950) that schizophrenia is essentially a disorder of metabolism, and have suggested that some substance chemically related to mescaline might be the causative agent. Hoffer, Osmond and Smythies (1954) have begun an investigation of this hypothesis and have found that adrenochrome, an oxidation product of adrenaline which is probably a normal intermediate metabolite, has active hallucinogenic properties. These authors do not regard adrenochrome as being unquestionably the toxic agent in schizophrenia, but suggest that it or some closely related substance, having the indole ring and derived from adrenaline, is involved. They also advance the opinion that the metabolic fault consists of an overproduction of adrenochrome or similar substances. Such a view necessarily implies either overproduction of adrenaline or a blocking of one or more of the paths of adrenaline detoxification in the body which do not lead through adrenochrome. As adrenaline is derived from tyrosine the hypothesis is essentially one of abnormal tyrosine metabolism. From this hypothesis certain deductions can be made.