Project Summary

Therese Van Amelsvoort, M.D., MRCPsych., M.Sc. (Young Investigator 2004) of University of Amsterdam, aims to do neuroimaging in people with velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS), a genetic condition that puts people at risk for developing psychosis and schizophrenia, as a way to study the pathology of schizophrenia. People with VCFS often have congenital heart and facial anomalies and cognitive and behavioral problems. It is believed they lack a gene that degrades dopamine. Without the gene, they may, then, have abnormal or excess levels of dopamine, which may lead to schizophrenia. A recent SPECT study shows increased baseline occupancy of striatal dopamine (D2) receptors by endogenous dopamine in patients with schizophrenia in an acute psychotic phase of the disease. However, it is unknown whether this increase occurs before or results from the psychosis. In the proposed project, Dr. Amselvoort wants to study baseline occupancy of striatal D2 receptors by SPECT in 20 non-psychotic, neuroleptic naive adults with VCFS and in 20 matched healthy controls. Subjects will receive two measurements of striatal D2 binding potential: a baseline control scan and a scan a week later after dopamine depletion induced by administration of a-methyl-para-tyrosine. The difference in striatal binding potential before and after acute dopamine depletion will be the main outcome. Dr. Van Amelsvoort hypothesizes that compared to controls, adults with VCFS will have a significant different baseline occupancy of striatal D2 receptors.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia

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