Polyunsaturated fatty acids, prostaglandins, and schizophrenia.

Psychotic disorders, particularly schizophrenia, are associated with clinical phenomena that can be explained by disturbances in polyunsaturated fatty acid and prostaglandin metabolism. Previous studies of PUFA, PG synthesis, PGE1 receptor activity and aggregation responses in platelets, and clinical treatment trials suggest a role for PGE in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Since a decrease in PGE1 activity can be associated with an increase of dopamine release, a deficiency of PGE1 is consistent with the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia. State-of-the-art assay and clinical trial methodology should clarify the role of PUFA metabolism in schizophrenia.