RELATIONSHIPS IN HEALTHY-VOLUNTEERS BETWEEN SECRETION OF MONOAMINE METABOLITES IN URINE, AND FAMILY HISTORY OF PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY

Abstract

In 66 physically and mentally healthy human subjects, the total concentrations of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol (MOPEG), 5-hydroxyIAA (5-HIAA), homovanillic acid (HVA) and dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (DOPAC) in urine collected between midnight and 0800 h were analyzed by mass fragmentography. In the volunteers reporting the occurrence of psychiatric morbidity among relatives an increased variance in their MOPEG levels was found as compared to the volunteers without such a family history. In the male subjects with no family history of psychiatric disease, there was a positive correlation between urine and CSF levels of MOPEG. The urine levels of 5-HIAA, HVA and DOPAC did not demonstrate any changes that could be related to psychopathology within the family. Changes in urine secretion of MOPEG indicate an altered metabolism of norepinephrine/MOPEG in some subjects with the occurrence of severe psychiatric disease within the family. MOPEG levels in urine may be a predictor of a family vulnerability for psychiatric morbidity in healthy subjects.