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Striatal dopamine synthesis capacity in twins discordant for schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 March 2011

P. Shotbolt ,
P. R. Stokes ,
S. F. Owens ,
T. Toulopoulou ,
M. M. Picchioni ,
S. K. Bose ,
R. M. Murray  and
O. D. Howes
P. Shotbolt*
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Imaging, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK
P. R. Stokes
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Imaging, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK
S. F. Owens
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
T. Toulopoulou
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
M. M. Picchioni
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK St Andrew's Academic Centre, King's College London, Northampton, UK
S. K. Bose
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Imaging, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK
R. M. Murray
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
O. D. Howes
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Imaging, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr P. Shotbolt, Clinical Imaging Centre, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

Elevated striatal dopamine synthesis capacity is thought to be fundamental to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and has also been reported in people at risk of psychosis. It is therefore unclear if striatal hyperdopaminergia is a vulnerability marker for schizophrenia, or a state feature related to the psychosis itself. Relatives of patients with schizophrenia are themselves at increased risk of developing the condition. In this study we examined striatal dopamine synthesis capacity in both members of twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia.

Method

In vivo striatal dopamine synthesis capacity was examined using fluorine-18-l-dihydroxyphenylalanine (18F-DOPA) positron emission tomography (PET) scans in seven twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia and in a control sample of 10 healthy control twin pairs.

Results

Striatal 18F-DOPA uptake was not elevated in the unaffected co-twins of patients with schizophrenia (p=0.65) or indeed in the twins with schizophrenia (p=0.89) compared to the control group. Levels of psychotic symptoms were low in the patients with schizophrenia who were in general stable [mean (s.d.) Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total=56.8 (25.5)] whereas the unaffected co-twins were largely asymptomatic.

Conclusions

Striatal dopamine synthesis capacity is not elevated in symptom-free individuals at genetic risk of schizophrenia, or in well-treated stable patients with chronic schizophrenia. These findings suggest that striatal hyperdopaminergia is not a vulnerability marker for schizophrenia.

Keywords

Dopamineimagingschizophreniatwin study
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 41 , Issue 11 , November 2011 , pp. 2331 - 2338
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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