Brain serotonin 5-HT(1A) receptor binding in schizophrenia measured by positron emission tomography and [11C]WAY-100635.

Background: Results of postmortem studies show an elevation in serotonin-1A (5-hydroxytryptamine-1A [5-HT(1A)]) receptor density in the prefrontal and temporal cortices of patients with schizophrenia. This study examined 5-HT(1A) receptors in vivo in patients with schizophrenia using positron emission tomography and [carbonyl-(11)C]-N-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-N-(2-pyridinyl)cyclohexane carboxamide ([(11)C]WAY-100635).

Methods: The 5-HT(1A) binding potential of 14 antipsychotic drug-naïve patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia was compared with that of 14 age-matched healthy controls.