Dopamine and noradrenalin in the cerebrospinal fluid of schizophrenic patients.

Concentrations of both dopamine (DA) and noradrenalin (NA) were determined in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of schizophrenic patients with and without neuroleptic treatment and in healthy controls. No significant differences were found between unmedicated patients and controls for either DA or NA. Patients receiving neuroleptics showed significantly higher levels of both DA and NA in the CSF. These results suggest that the reported findings of increased NA in the CSF and increased DA and NA in the brain of schizophrenic patients could be due, at least in part, to the effects of neuroleptic drugs.