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The “Pink Spot” in Schizophrenics and its Absence in Homocystinurics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

J. Philip Welch
Affiliation:
Division of Medical Genetics, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
Courtney G. Clower
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins Hospital, Spring Grove State Hospital, Catonsville, Maryland 21228
R. Neil Schimke
Affiliation:
Division of Medical Genetics, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland 21205

Extract

In 1952 Osmond and Smythies, with Harley-Mason, suggested that schizophrenia might be due to an abnormality in the metabolism of epinephrine, by which a mescaline-like substance such as dimethoxyphenylethylamine (DMPE) might be produced by O-methylation at the third and fourth positions. It was felt then that DMPE might have “psychotomimetic properties” similar to mescaline.

Type
Studies in Schizophrenia
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1969 

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