RT Journal
A1 Simon AE, Umbricht D
T1 IS elevated striatal dopamine function a prodromal sign of schizophrenia?
JF Archives of General Psychiatry
JO Archives of General Psychiatry
YR 2009
FD August 1
VO 66
IS 8
SP 915
OP 917
DO 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2009.100
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2009.100
AB 
It was a pleasure reading the article by Howes et al,1 who report an increase of striatal dopamine activity in patients fulfilling prodromal criteria for schizophrenia. They demonstrate that striatal dopamine activity was correlated with the severity of prodromal symptoms and with the severity of neuropsychological impairment in subjects with at-risk mental states (ARMS). However, as not all of these subjects go on to develop psychosis, Howes et al propose that elevated dopamine activity may also be a correlate of increased vulnerability to psychosis and conclude that presynaptic striatal function may be a promising target for future drug development in the treatment of psychotic disorders.