Psychiatry Presentations
Document Type
Presentation
Publication Date
5-18-2009
Abstract
Serum prolactinis an indicator of tuberoinfundibulardopamine activity. It is reported to increase in wide variety of mental illnesses. It has close relationship with antipsychotic therapy. However, its relationship with psychopathology and outcome is not clear. Serum prolactinlevel was measured in 30 male and 30 female drug naive patients of schizophrenia. Subsequently, these patients were treated with antipsychotics. The severity of psychopathology at the baseline and subsequent improvement at the end of 3 weeks and 6 weeks was assessed on modified brief psychiatric rating scale (mBPRS). Available to follow up at five years 18 males & 22 females patients were reassessed and findings analyzed for predictive significance.Contrary to expectations, prolactinlevels in patients were twice as high before treatment compared to after. However, this difference was found to be statistically significant in males only. Correlations between the prolactin, BPRS, and outcome measurements were not significant for any time point up to six weeks. Significant positive correlations were observed using measures obtained five years follow up only. From the present study it seems that baseline serum prolactinlevel in drug naive patients of schizophrenia may not be a reliable indicator of psychopathology but it may be an indicator of good prognosis in long term. Further research is necessary to arrive at a definite conclusion.
Notes
Poster presentation at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting in San Francisco in May 2009.