[beta-Phenylethylamine in the cisternal fluid in acute endogenous psychoses].

Beta-Phenylethylamine can be detected in the cisternal cerebrospinal fluid of healthy controls and acute endogenous psychoses. One group of the patients shows the same concentrations as the psychiatrically healthy controls. In the other groups beta-phenylethylamine was found to be elevated in some cases up to a very high level. The results suggest a link between a disturbance of the phenylethylamine pathway and certain endogenous psychoses.