Pharmacological Targets in Schizophrenia

Dopamine

Adapted from Kandel et al., eds. Principles of Neural Science. Norwalk, CT: Appleton & Lange; 1991:854.

Hypoactivity: Negativeand Cognitive Symptoms

Hyperactivity:Positive Symptoms

Tuberoinfundibular Pathway

MesocorticalPathway

MesolimbicPathway

NigrostriatalPathway

Dopaminergic Pathways in the Brain

Schizophrenia Core Symptoms

Psychotic Deficit Cognitive

PositiveSymptomsMesolimbic pathway

NegativeSymptomsDLPC &VMPFC

CognitiveDysfunctionDLPFC

AffectiveVMPFC

Smith et al (1997)

Synthesis and degradation of serotonin

Tryptophan

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)

Tryptophan hydroxylase

5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)

5-Hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase

5-Hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA)

Monoamine oxidase (MAO)

Synthesis and degradation of catecholamines

PhenylalanineKey

COMT = Catechol O-methyltransferase

MAO = Monoamineoxidase

L-tyrosine

Dopamine

L-dopa

Tyrosine hydroxylase

3-methoxy-tyramine Noradrenaline3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC)

Homovalinillic acid (HVA)

3-methoxy-4-hydroxy phenylglycol (MHPG)

3-methoxy-4-hydroxy mandelic acid (VMA))

COMT MAO MAO/COMT

Roth et al (1995)