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Pharmacopsychiatry 2004; 37(5): 217-220
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-832595
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Chronic Antidopaminergic Medication Might Affect Amygdala Structure in Patients with Schizophrenia

L. Tebartz van Elst1 , D. Bäumer1 , D. Ebert1 , M. R. Trimble2
  • 1Neuropsychiatric Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany
  • 2Raymond Way Neuropsychiatry Research Group, Institute of Neurology, University College, London, UK
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 23.7.2003 Revised: 24.11.2003

Accepted: 26.11.2003

Publication Date:
10 September 2004 (online)

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Background: Recently amygdala enlargement has been reported in patients with schizophrenia like psychosis of epilepsy. The effect of antipsychotic medication on amygdala structure has not been investigated so far. There is theoretical evidence to support the assumption that dopaminergic neurotransmission might affect neuronal plasticity. Methods: In order to analyze the influence of chronic antidopaminergic medication on amygdala structure we compared amygdala volumes in patients with schizophrenia like psychosis of epilepsy (POE) treated with neuroleptic medication (n = 11) to patients with POE not treated with such medication (n = 15), patients with epilepsy alone (n = 24) and healthy control subjects (n = 20). Results: Analyzing our data with a factorial ANOVA approach, we found a significant effect of the factor medication in that patients treated with antipsychotic medication displayed a ”normalization” of the increased amygdala volumes observed in the untreated patient group. Conclusion: This observation supports the assumption that antidopaminergic medication might affect the amygdala structure.

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Ludger Tebartz van Elst, M.D.

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg

Hauptstr. 5

79104 Freiburg

Germany

Phone: +49 761 270 6550

Fax: +49 761 270 6619

Email: ludger_vanelst@psyallg.ukl.uni-freiburg.de

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